Fronzizzle

I don't want to bore you all with details, but last year I was having a hard time getting my valves adjusted properly (despite some great advice from this site). One thing I never did was run the car with the valve covers off, I really didn't want to create a mess so I just left it for the time being.

Cut to today. I have the intake off to fix an oil leak. As I was getting it all ready to put back together, I noticed that a few rockers - 4 on the driver's side and 2 on the passenger - have paint missing off their corners. See attached pics; sorry they're dark, but you can see where the blue is off.

I assume this means the rockers are hitting my valve covers and perhaps is the source of my noise (as opposed to the valves). The covers I'm using are from Summit Racing, they are tall ones but perhaps still not correct? Is this a cover issue, or a rocker arm (or something else) issue?

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

That's not the spot I would think that the rocker would hit on the covers. Are there any marks on the inside of the valve covers?

Are you positive they weren't like that when installed? (common sense question, but gotta ask).

Fronzizzle

I checked the inside of the valve covers, I don't see anything obvious. But they are brand new, too, and very shiny inside so I'm not sure I would see it.

These rockers were brand new before I installed them...I can't honestly say I checked them over that well but I don't think they were like this. Besides, I've had the valve covers off enough that I think I would have seen this before. Maybe.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Mmk. If they were hitting it looks like the only place they'd be able to touch would be the side of the valve cover. Do you have a piece of scrap sheet metal or similar somewhere that you could "line up" on the head in the same place that the wall of the valve cover would be? Just thinking outside the box here but if you do that and there's a visible clearance issue you'd have your answer.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Run it with cover off. Still make noise? If it was hitting it be the tops of rocker hitting cover or the front of rocker nose and you definately would see some minor markings inside the cover

Also check to make sure the pushrods arent rubbing the heads. Also a source for tick like noises

Fronzizzle

I just wiped out and double checked both covers - yep, hitting. Obvious wear marks, lined up perfectly with the corners of the rockers. Not sure if this is my only noise/issue, but definitely not right.

So...how do I go about figuring out if this is a rocker problem or just a valve cover issue? I don't have any other covers to try.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

If geometry of valvetrain is correct then its just a valvecover issue.

cuisinartvette

Just grind or take a flap wheel coarse one to the inside of the cover

Had the same issue with my Jesels..newmotor
Must have adjusted the valves a dozen times wondering wtf...then wonderingitI didnt have a guide, lifter issue etc

That gave the answer,I felt pretty lame for not catching it lol
The valve cover looked fine, its was only til it was wiped clean and put under a bright flourescent you could just make out the contact points.

90camaro355rs

make sure your rocker arms are not sitting at an angle

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yes that looks like they've been rubbing.

Most likely, you have your valve covers turned around backwards. The intake side and exhaust side aren't the same; the intake side (push rod end of the rockers) is more "vertical", while the exhaust side is more "leaned in".

On each side of the engine, viewed from that side (like looking over the fender), the PCV fitting goes toward the left. Left front, right rear.

Fronzizzle

The valve covers were on correctly, just as you described.

I'm very excited to have found this (and to fix it). Hopefully, my ticking noise will go away for good.

One more quick question. In examining the rockers & covers, some areas look like they've barely been hitting, there are very light scratches. In a couple of locations, however, there are deep gouges and the corner of the rocker is worn down, not just paint missing. Is it possible that this was causing any kind of running or performance issue, maybe not allowing a valve to open all the way or something like that?