So my brand new engine has a noise that reminds me of the noise that made me replace it in the first place. The old motor had what I believed to be either rod knock or piston slap. I never found out because I pulled the motor and there it sits. After remachining the clifford head my mechanic reinstalled it for me. (read my post two days ago). Any way when he was reinstalling the rockers we called clifford and asked about adjusting the valves. I thought, what? adjust hydrolic lifters? He wanted to know how many turns ie. .5-1.5 theysaid 3/4 . So when I first heard it running after getting it all back together there is this tapping noise at idle, it really bugs me. he says its because 3/4 turn is a performance setting and thats normal. is this right or could there be something else going on. Now it does not really sound like before, as that noise did not go away when reved. this is mostly just at idle. still don't like it. My other pickup with this engine has 195,000 miles at least as the odo olny works sometimes purrs like a kitten.

 

So I adjusted the velves my self. that was definately not the noise. I did it with the engine running. This noise is a knock. Should I ship this thing back to clifford and build my own I am pissed. again pm me if you want the whole story of my dealings with clifford.

 

Try pulling plug wires one at a time with the engine idling to see if the noise goes away when unloaded. If it does, then you have at least isolated it to a cylinder. Maybe there is a problem lifter that won't be silenced by adjustment.

It would be good to know what it is before you go to war.

If you can't isolate it to a single cylinder:
Eliminate the pulleys and accessories by starting it up momentarily with the belts removed. Listen to the fuel pump with a stethescope.