tapping noise
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: maui
tapping noise
i just finished rebuilding my 390 and hear a tapping noise coming from cylinder #3.
using a 3 feet 1/2" pipe to listen laying against the exhaust header #3 clearly hear what i think is the exhaust valve tapping.
the heads were rebuilt by pops machine shop.
i did the valve adjustment following the comp cams instructions that say 1 turn pass zero lash.
and i have just 13" of vacuum which i think is not enough,with a 262 cam.at this point im not sure if the problem is the intake or the exhaust valve and how to check it?
any thoughts will be highly appreciated,thanks!
using a 3 feet 1/2" pipe to listen laying against the exhaust header #3 clearly hear what i think is the exhaust valve tapping.
the heads were rebuilt by pops machine shop.
i did the valve adjustment following the comp cams instructions that say 1 turn pass zero lash.
and i have just 13" of vacuum which i think is not enough,with a 262 cam.at this point im not sure if the problem is the intake or the exhaust valve and how to check it?
any thoughts will be highly appreciated,thanks!
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
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From: CT
Are you sure it's a tap and not a small exhaust leak? And which "Pops" did the heads? There's the Pops guys in KY who have a pretty crappy reputation. And there's Doug G at Precision Oil Pumps (POP) in CA who's a great guy toi deal with. What work was done in the rebuild?
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From: maui
I'm not sure ,it might be an exhaust leak.Pops from KY did the heads,complete rebuild with bigger stainless valves.I know Doug from Precision oil pumps,great guy ,i didn't buy the heads from him cause he didn't have any in stock at that time ,and i didn't want to pay shipping of my heads.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Does the tap get louder when you accelerate and almost disappear when you let off the gas? Or does it stay the same no matter what you except, just get faster and slower with the RPMs?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,762
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From: Antelope Valley ,CA
what's your idle set at ? to low and you'll get noise from your rockers as theres no oil getting up .
also if you're running a fram filter get rid of it ! switch to a motorcraft or wix
also if you're running a fram filter get rid of it ! switch to a motorcraft or wix
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
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I know my tapping noise gets worse when it warms up and when I rev it up it gets quicker. I have good oil pressure around 65 and no exhaust leaks. other than the tapping it runs great!
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,762
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From: Antelope Valley ,CA
pull a valve cover and start her up , the oil just trickles with the FE engines so it won't make a mess . look for oil in the "pans" maybe they installed wrong bolts for rocker assembly's and no oil flowing up there ?
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ya I did that pulled the valve covers and ran it. oil came out the rocker shaft like they should. and all the push rods could be spun by hand with no play. and when it was running the push rods were turning also. so I'm out of ideas... only other thing I could think of is lifter.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Houston
I got gasoline in the oil once and it broke up some sludge. A lifter caught some and started tapping. Pretty loudly. Put in a can of detergent (CD-2) and after about 100 miles the tapping would quit when rpm got past 1500. Added another can and after a few days the tapping stopped, never to be heard of again. I heard AT fluid has a lot of detergents also, but never tried it.
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