Ok, so here's the deal...

69-79 350 4 bolt main block, .040, stock cam, stock crank, flat top pistons, new lifters, 416 heads (stock).

I've got a bad ticking from the top of the motor, sounds like valve lash, but then I've adjusted so tight that the exhaust would stay open and back fire thru the exhaust...

Anyway I re-used push rods, springs and rockers, do you think maybe that I either have a bent pushrod or weak spring? any help would be appreciated.

Ken

 

Bump...anyone?

 

I had a 350 that did that. I put a new cam and lifter set in it and it still made the noise. I drove it one day and it made a loud pop and started stuttering. I thought it was a collapsed lifter. I got it home and took the valve covers off and it was a broken rocker. Put a new set of rockers on and it was fine. No noise at all.

 

hmm. new lifters and cam, so I wonder if I got a bad set of rockers,,, cheap to try anyway...any other thoughts?

 

Thats call detenation, run higher octang fuel or turn your timiing down to around *10

Your fuel is sparking off to soon making it slam valves shut and they rattle almost like a dielse. higher octange or less timing is your only fix.

 

Could be a wiped cam lobe. Spin your motor over by hand and watch the rocker arms closely. Do you see one that is moving a lot less than the others?

 

Gumby, my timming is currently set to about 2 - 4 degrees, it sounds like a bad lifter just a lot of ticking...

BadAssNovas.com, my cam is new, right out of the box... but I can look to see if there is any less movement of rockers...

 

New doesn't mean anything. It still could have wiped a lobe. A ticking sound could also be a header leak.

 

Point taken, but can you explain the wiped lobe part...as well I just installed headers with new gaskets, so not sure there is a header leak, but I'll recheck them...

 

I've broke-in a new cam correctly from a very popular cam manufacturer and it ended up wiping an exhaust lobe in a month. Turned out to be a flaw with that batch of cams.

If you just installed new headers and gaskets, you need to re-torque the header bolts after a few heat cycles. That might be the source to your problem right there.

 

thanks, I'll do that tonight. really appreciate the advise...

 

Glad to help...hope it's something simple as the header gaskets/bolts

 

Im with gumby.

Id take in account that your running 58cc heads. I am
running 081's 58cc heads as well on my L98. It seems to
me my motor is alot more prone to detonation if timing
is too advanced or low octane fuel such as 87.. I run
premium 100% of time without a problem on stock timing.

Plus! The car is faster than it was with the old L98 heads