I see what you're saying, but I am having a difficult time seeing how this can be a bearing issue.

I didn't have this problem until after I swapped the heads. I replaced the 400 heads with crumbling valve seats with 351C heads with hardened seats machined into them. It made no ticking or popping noises with the 400 heads. When I did the swap, the only thing that changed were the heads, nothing else (well, except for the fluids.)

At highway speed, when the pressure is around 40psi, it still makes that ticking noise - I can hear it through the firewall...

I didn't buy the engine nor did I install it, but I did get the paperwork from the PO - which I seem to have misplaced. The paperwork didn't specifically state what was done, it was more of brochure detailing what the rebuilder does to the engines, but I have no way of knowing if what the brochure stated was done and what was actually done are the same. The rebuilder has been out of business for a few years. The only thing I know for sure is that it was bored .060 over and has .060 oversize pistons - other than that, no idea.

I don't know about the oil pump relief - I haven't needed to drop the oil pan yet so I didn't get a chance to look around up under there.

I haven't tried heavier oil, but that was suggested to me by other folks, as well...

The oil pressure doesn't drop until after the engine has warmed up to normal temp and I come to a stop/idle. Until then, the pressure is fine. Also, I'm reading the pressure with an electric gauge - I don't have a mechanical gauge and I won't be running oil lines into the cab of my truck. I question just how accurate that gauge is at the lower pressure.

I'll have to try the heavier oil - that seems to be the next logical step - just to test a theory...

It runs fantastic otherwise - nice and smooth.

I had read that the chamber design of the Cleveland head was prone to causing detonation - that's why I thought I was initially dealing with a ping.

I'll probably just say "screw it" and run it until it dies. It is the opinion of both the PO and myself that the engine was probably beat to death and worn out before the rebuild - hence the radical overbore...

I wish I had you guys here to actually hear what I'm trying to diagnose. It's like trying to troubleshoot a computer problem without actually being there to see it...

 

I had the same issue with a 400 after a rebuild with noisey valve train noise..changed cams twice,lifters,went with adjustable roller rockers,same heads always used,checked for exhaust leaks,every thing I could possible do..drove the truck for a few years , just tolerated the noise then lost a cam lobe ....went and got a differant block and rebuilt the entire motor again...no valve noise..my point is I beleive there was something wrong with the lifter bore or bores in the other block....just my 2 cents..:-)