OK- back in the mid of Febuary, i got my car finished and drive it daily.. A couple weeks back i got home and as i was letting off the gas i noticed that i had some valvetrain noise..
I replaced the lock nuts with new ones and got rid of all valve noise. Well saturday i got back from the track and i was idling in my driveway w/ the hood down and could hear them rattling again.. I have tried adjusting the rockers by the way the manual tells me, and by the way that the high performance engine builders have told me. And i've done it - When i got home on saturday, messed w/ it more sunday, messed w/ it last night, and thismorning and again tonight. Nothing seems to help it and its only a rattle on the passenger side of the motor...

I know that the vortec heads have press in studs, and i called the machine shop and the guy who owns it said he 98% doubts that those studs are pulling out.

So, I dont know what to do anymore.. Anybody got anything??
BTW- i have a hydraulic flat tappet cam w/ Crane Cams stamped steel roller rockers and 3/8ths studs..

Thanks!

 

What springs are you running?

Anything much more than stock can get you a few pulled studs in alot faster than a year!

 

I doubt it's a stud pulling out. Even when trying to remove them from the heads with the proper tools they're a pain in the butt. If you're certain that it's under the valve cover and not in the block, then check for:

*broken or bent pushrod(s)
*Broken valve spring
*lifters; check to see if any feel "squishy"
*Check the lift with a dial indicator. Could be a wiped lobe (unlikely, but hey)
*lay a straight edge across all the valve stems with the rockers off. Could be a bent valve.
*or you just might not have the valve adjustment right.

 

While you have the rockers off lay a straight edge across the top of the studs, ya never know one or 2 might be popping up!

 

Yeah, first thing im going to do is lay a flat edge across the studs, I know that none of my springs are bent or broken, also my rockers all look to be in great, almost out of the box shape..

but knowing my luck, the studs are probably pulling out...

none of the lifters ever felt "squishy" they all seemed solid when i moved the pushrods. I pulled most of them out and they all seemed to be strait and not seem to have any wear on them.. the motor deffenetly has oil pressure too b/c if i take off the valve cover and have it revved up it will spray oil about 2feet..

 

do you have a cam button?

 

OK-here is where i stand- I got new nuts of a different brand.

I checked all the pushrods, all are strait. None of the lifters feel "squishy, all are firm when i push on them, no broken springs, no pulling out studs. I started putting the new nuts on and it sounds alot better than it did, and im not done tryin to adjust them yet, i know its a difficult process, but it seems like only 2 or 3 are still just rattling a little, but it got dark and i couldnt see anymore..

As for a cam button- no i dont believe that they put one over it...