I have an '87 IROC with the LB9 TPI V8 and a 5spd tranny. This past weekend I decided it was time to change the valve seals due to the puffs of smoke I'd get everytime I started it up and also because she just turned the big 100k recently. I knew it was a big job in terms of time but everything seemed to go very well except when it was time to do the passenger side (I was using an air attachment to stick into the spark plug holes to keep the valves from falling into the cylinders and I even tuned her up while I was at it seeing I had to pull the plugs out anyway). When I was finished I went through the 'painful' process of putting everything back together and then started up the beast. It started up just fine and runs fine except there is a ticking sound under the hood. It sounds exactly like the ticking you hear from fuel injectors except its louder. I thought it was probably a valve that was stickin open and that I'd probably just have to check to see which rocker arms needed additional tightening but if you listen near the motor, it actually sounds like its coming from up on top under the plenum rather than under either valve covers. Anybody have any ideas?? The only good thing that came outta this so far is the fact that she doesnt burn any oil upon start up anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

anybody??

 

i think you should check the rockers again, even though it sounds like it coming form elsewhere, it could be echoing through the intake, i worked on a blazer and you could hear a valve rattling all the way at the back through the exhuast, but barely anything up front

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84' Firebird, 305ci lg4, 700R4, 288/292 duration .450/.460 lift,Edelbrock Performer intake, Holley 600cfm 4 barrel, K&N filter, Pacesetter Headers, 3'single exhuast, dual out muffler, no cat,Motive 3.73's and Auburn Posi
1/4mile 15.17sec @ 92.5mph

currently in pieces, for manual swap

 

Anybody?????

 

Thanks for the help, thats exactly what I was thinkin. Just outts curiosity, I know its probably not a good idea to leave the car like that for an extended period of time but if I cant get around to fixin it like now, will this cause major damage if I still drive it easy?? I feel like this may be a dumb question cuz obviously something is outta spec in the motor but I also think that I may be makin a bigger deal outta this than I should. Thanks in advance

 

You'll be fine running the car like that, you'll just have one less cylinder to rely on well enough. I have to get that same exact problem worked on.

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1984 Camaro Coupe LG4 V8 (5.0L 305ci)

• 700R4 Transmission
• K&N Filtercharger

 

you can drive it but its not good for it, i would re-adjust them ASAP, if the rocker is loose enough, it can cause the lifter to bounce on the cam, which could cause the roller in your case to fail, and it can also lead to a bent or gouged pushrod if it moves around enough, adjusting valves isn't hard so there really is no reason to put it off

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84' Firebird, 305ci lg4, 700R4, 288/292 duration .450/.460 lift,Edelbrock Performer intake, Holley 600cfm 4 barrel, K&N filter, Pacesetter Headers, 3'single exhuast, dual out muffler, no cat,Motive 3.73's and Auburn Posi
1/4mile 15.17sec @ 92.5mph

currently in pieces, for manual swap

 

Thanks for the help, prob is now fixed. It was just one rocker arm that needed another half a turn or so. Now she runs great and no more ticking!!!