I've read through a lot of threads over the past 45 minutes or so reading up on tapping lifters. Some of it seemed like it might apply to me but I'm not really sure.

Either way, I've got a ticking/tapping noise coming from my motor, and it sounds like a lifter or at least something in the valvetrain.

It's a 180,000 mile L03 in a 92 RS (roller). Just threw a new intake manifold gasket on it and I didnt notice anything obviously wrong at the time. To be honest, I didnt even notice the tapping until I cranked it back up afterwards. It may have been thre before, but I just got the car and I was just getting everything into tip top shape by replacing the intake gasket (coolant leak) and it's making a tapping noise all of a sudden. I then realized I've never actually had the hood open with the engine running since I got it last week, so maybe it's just gotten louder. Maybe it was there before and I just didnt notice, but I'm pretty sure it wasnt there last week, or at least it wasnt as noticeable.

It seemed to be running fine last week, but I've got a lot of odd issues going on today whenever I load the engine. IT starts vibrating pretty hard and sounding really ugly. A friend suggested a fouled plug and it makes sense to me, but I need to get the timing straight on it too, Also, I missed the MAP sensor vacuum line when it was firstp ut back together, and finally I found it and plugged it in and it ran a whole lot better. But the vibration and noise was still there. Is it possible that running in limp home mode with the SES light on could have fouled the plugs, or do you guys thnk maybe I have a stuck valve or something?

I might go out and mess with it again wednesday, but I'm thinkin that regardless its gonna have to get another top end tear down and that would have to wait at least until next weekend or maybe next month or next fiscal year.

I'm thinkin about just droppin the insurance and parking her for a while if there's no easy fix, so any help would be very mcuh appreciated.

 

Try adjusting your valves. Do a search on VALVE LASH and this could be your problem. You said your engine is "roller". Did you install roller rockers on it, because these engines did not come with roller rockers from factrory. You will have a hyd. roller cam though. I would start with the valve lash, maybe you've got a loose lock nut or something.

 

I thought all the blocks made after 88 had roller lifters?

If I'm confusing two things or just wrong all togehter then I stand corrected.

And thanks for hte suggestion, I'll definitely give that shot.

 

nah roller lifters have well a roller on the end, ours are solid tipped.

If youre worried about the ses code, just disconnect the battery for 30 seconds and hook it back up, that clears the computer.

A ticking noise could definitly be the injectors, i got a much more open intake in the stealth ram and now that the injectors arent shrouded by intake runners, you can hear them ticking away.

One good method is if you can somehow get your hands on a stethoscope, just go around the motor with that to pinpoint where the tick is coming from.

 

Might want to check that again. All thirdgens received roller lifters from the factory starting in 1987.

Roller rockers we don't have.

 

sorry i had woken up like 10 minutes prior, meant to say rockers

 

The SES code is taken care of. I think I might have some fouled plugs from it though, because I dont know how liberal the computer is with dumping gas into the motor when it was on, though. It runs realy bad under load, like I said, going into overdrive just gives me some bad noises until the engine works up to about 1500 rpm again.

Not sure how much is timing and how much is possibly fouled plugs and how much has something to do with that lifter tap. Me and a friend are gonna tackle it this weekend, but Im not sure if we'll get around to working on the tap.

 

I'd guess you dropped some crud in a lifter while doing the intake gasket. If it's solid like a piece of gasket or dirt/sand, about the only fix is to take the lifter out and clean it (if it hasn't been permanently damaged), or replace it.

If it is something that will desolve, like a chunk of oil residue, an engine flush product may clean it up.