If i bent my valve cover when i took it off can i hammer it flat and use it again, or would it be better to get a new one? also, is a ticking sound from the valve just a sign of low oil? I'm pretty sure i had a gasket leak so that's why the cover came off.

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--Steve S-- 84 Trans Am 305 HO 5 speed, completely stock will soup up when i get some $$$$$$$$$$

 

Depending upon where and how badly you bent your valve cover, yes, it can be hammered flat. Many of us old-timers do that as a matter of course any time the covers are off.

A ticking lifter is not likely to be low oil. If low oil will cause one to tick, they'll all tick. However, if that did happen, and you put oil back in and one still ticks, it could have been damaged while the oil was low.

Things that can cause a single lifter to tick are: Out of adjustment; dirty, damaged or worn lifter; worn camshaft lobe. You could probably add worn or damaged rocker and/or pushrod to that list.

Low oil pressure may also cause a weak lifter to tick, but again, it's more likely that they all will tick.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

To add to five7's info, there are lots of other things that will cause a "lifter tick", besides the lifters themselves. A bent pushrod will flex each time it's operated, causing it to smack into the hole in the head that acts as its guide; a worn retainer will allow the valve spring to slide from side to side; a wiped out rocker ball seat will make what would actually be a squeak if you could slow it down, but sounds like a tick; and the tip of the rocker can get a groove worn in it, which will make the valve tip ride out of the groove for part of its travel, then fall into the groove at some point as it moves, causing a tick. And of course, if the cam lobe and lifter base are damaged as often happens, that will make another of those ticks that would be a squeak if it was slowed way down.

You can take a piece of hose and stick one end in your ear, then point the other end at every part of the valve train until you find it. If it's not anything in the rocker gallery, then it's probably something to do with a cam lobe and/or lifter.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

I noticed the engine you have. I assume that it has the CCC carb. on it?? I also thought that I had a faulty lifter on mine after I rebuilt the engine , until I listened closely and found that it was the mixture control solinoid on the carb tickin- which is absolutely normal and shows that the carb is doin it's thing. You can also disconnect the two wire connector on top of the carb while the engine is running to test this theory, and if the ticking stops, your engine is fine. Just something to check!!

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Freshly rebuilt 1983 Camaro Z28 305 H.O. (L69) 3:73 Gears, BW T-5, Duel Snorkle, Rhino Clutch, 2040 Compu-cam, LS1 valve springs, porting, PST front end kit, K&N Filter and runs great but ain't streetable yet!!....Future Mods: JUNK IT if this keeps up!!

 

You can bang the valve covers back, we do it at the machine shop on "stocker" rebuilds. Just buy some new ones. You can get them cheap on the net, or go to a machine shop. We sell nice ones for ~ $50.

 

Thanks for the help guys, i sure hope it is the carb and not part of the engine. I got my bird back in August and was told by the owner that the engine was rebuilt 3-4 years ago by the previous owner (me being the 3rd). I don't know how good a job was done, but the guy let it sit for 2 years or so b/c of college issues. Anyway, I sure hope it is the carb, b/c i had trouble w/ it running WOT on it's own for about 2 min tops. If it is the rocker arm or whatnot, i'm going to sell it for a later Firebird or Camaro with the 5.7, it's been sitting in my driveway for a week. No cash to put into it, and there is always something wrong w/ it. Cooling problem to ignition problem, to this, then something around the corner (i can feel it). Well, at least i can get lots of opinions, and been there done that experience from u guys & thanks a lot!

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--Steve S-- 84 Trans Am 305 HO 5 speed, completely stock will soup up when i get some $$$$$$$$$$

 

oh yea, i forgot, it is the OE Quadrajet Carb