Went out in my buddys 2000 T.A, cammed and everything. All was fine till we hear a light ticking sound then he pushed the clutch to downshift and it died and wouldnt start back up. We had to get some friends with a trailer to drag it back home. I hooked up a fp gauge and he has 50psi and he tried to start it again and gave it a little gas and it went but he had to apply throttle for a few seconds and it was idling and the fuel psi was still about 50psi. I started to manual rev the tb and from the drivers side i hear a clicking/clacking, and then it would stall out from me reving it. I pulled his valve cover and check it, everything was intact and rockers were tight and no play in the push rods. Im at the idea its either a Collapsed lifter or a rod knocking. I think he wants to tear off the intake and check the lifter tonight? What do you think it could be, and this happend going on the highway to a town thats about 50 miles away no hammering on the engine either, it just all the sudden appeared. Thanks

 

Also when it starts he keeps start up pressure of oil at 40psi give or take.

 

It's possible that he has bent a pushrod or two as they are a weak link in the valve train which will mimick a bad lifter as well as "tick".Also, if you are going to inspect the lifters, you will have to pull the heads off because that is the only way you be able to remove them... these motors are completely different from the old small blocks. Before going to the extreme, I would pull the rockers off of both sideS and roll them on a flat surface such as a piece of glass or a mirror, If one is bent you will see it. Hope this helps.

 

50PSI fuel pressure is too low. It should be 58 or a little higher. Light ticking could be pushrods especially if he changed the cam and left the stock valve springs and pushrods in there.

 

Does it have dual valve springs? If so, an outer might have broken and valve is being closed only by the inner. Will cause loud clacking and engine will run like skit.

A spun rod bearing will be a much deeper metal clunking sound from deep in the engine.

 

no its not dual valve springs, he switched to a spring good to .610 and has Texas speed performance push rods, but kept stock lifters, im so thinkin/hopin its his lifters. shall find out tomorrow when the pistons see daylight!

 

well pull the heads, yea all the lifters were in good condition. so now we believe it was a rod knocking after all.