My '95 Z with 108xxx miles makes a ticking sound from the top of the engine I can hear at idle.
Sounds like a lifter ticking to me. Is this common, Should I try to adjust the rockers?
I'sn't this a roller cam?
The cars seems to have a very subtle surging at cruising speed on the highway. I thought it might be the knock sensor picking this up and pulling the timing out. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Jman

 

It's probably coming from the valve train as you pointed out. Get a mechanic's stethoscope and listen to where the sound is coming from. If it's just a rocker then take care of it and you should be good.

LT1's have hydraulic cams not solid rollers -- IDK if that's what you ment by "roller."

 

Mine has the same problem at 123k.I am using 10w30 full synthetic at the moment and have used up to a straight 30w to try and quiet them down.I have tried all of the adjustment tricks and nothing has worked.My hot oil pressure is 25psi idle and 40psi cruise. The top end of the motor was off a year ago and evreything appeared normal(visual only-no dimensional checks).
Pushrods were not clogged,motor very clean inside,no sludge buildup.Lash is currently set at 1/2 turn past zero.One thing I did notice when adjusting the rockers with the motor running was the small amount of oil coming out of the rocker arm holes.I am suspecting that worn cam bearings are causing pressure bleedoff at the lifter gallery and starving the lifters for oil.I hope I am wrong on this point becuse I don't want to pull an otherwise perfectly running engine.I am leaning towards replacing the oil pump and screen at this time.Surely we have some professional engine builders here that can shed some more light here.

 

yep mine ticks, but its cause of a crappy spark plug wire

 

An exhaust leak at the manifold can also cause a ticking sound. As stated about, use a mechanic's stethoscope or a piece of tubing to isolate the source of the noise.

 

I have ruled out an exhaust leak on mine.Plugs are all tight.It is for sure coming from the valve cover area.It doesn't sound like all of the lifters though so maybe I have just one lifter going bad.Seems to me if it was a oil pressure problem I would have all kinds of racket going on.This noise goes away at anything above idle by the way so this would rule out a rod or main bearing problem.Has anyone else had this ticking problem and found out exactly what it was?

 

When you find out let me know. I have the smae thing from the valve cover on the driver side.

 

me to, never adjusted mine yet...

 

join the club.. i was just trying to find mine tonight while i was looking for exhuast leaks to fix my rasp

 

Good advice, a loose spark plug can eventually damage the threads and blow out. Ask me how I know...

 

I too have a ticking noise which sounds like it's coming from the second cylinder (area) on the driver side.
I was told by several mechanics around town that they would have to suggest the problem was a stuck lifter.

Upon 2 mechanics suggestion, I added a quart of Marval Mystery Oil to my oil when I did my last oil change and I must admit the tone has changed, but it still ticks.

The wierd thing is, when I raise the hood, you can hear it coming from the engine. However, with the hood down, I can hear it from under the hood but more so from under the car where the sound is apperantly resonating through my gutted cat.

Anyway, it still ticks but just with a little different tone. I have also been told to try some stuff called "Sea Foam".

I hate this ticking noise beouse it makes my car look (sound) like crap .

One ? , can it be a rocker that is out of alignment (adjustment) or is that just not possible?

My 94 Z is stock with the usual bolt-ons and has 95K on the Odometer. I have owned it since 97 when it had 24K and I have kept the oil changes every 3K-3.5K miles with Val. 10w-30.

 

anyone else notice that its mostly us with 94 and 95 models with this problem? still i really wish i could find out what it is... it bugs the crap outta me, especially lately cause my door panel is off right now and i can hear it all the time

 

is the ticking louder than just normal "lifter" ticking? MINE is doing this.. sounds like the #3 cyl (second back on the left side) but its hard to tell... I changed my dang lifters and its STILL doing it.. put a can of gunk in it and then changed the oil to hopefully clean out the oil galleys... but its still ticking.. its definately a top end noise. If it was the bottom end it would have either seized or gotten worse when I drove it from Illinois to Wisconsin (3 1/2 hour drive) I am really starting to get pissed off here. I got lucky and the place only charged me 400 bucks to change out the lifters but that is 400 bucks spent on NOT fixing the problem...

I hope SOMEONE can figure this out because I am about to go nuts here

AL

 

Same place mine is ticking, asumming you are meaning "left" = Drivers side .

I have an electric cutout on my car and when I head out to our local hangout spot, I open it in the parking lot to try and cover up the crappy sounding tick.

You mentioned you had the lifters replaced, are you sure the shop accually replaced them and not shooting you a curve.
I am not implying, just wondering becouse I have almost reached the point of doing the whole Cam, 1.6 rr, and new lifters to make this noise go away.

Just wondering.

 

yes left side of the engine as your sitting in the drivers seat.

yes I am sure they replaced the lifters... I saw the old ones... I am a mechanic too but I am in the Army and right now I just don't have the time to devote to fixing it. I asked him all sorts of questions and gave him some hints on stuff to try and nothing is working. I even told him to check the "wierd" stuff because the simple stuff isn't doing it. We are both still leaning towards a clogged oil galley to the lifter. sometimes I guess one can of gunk won't eat all the sludge out if there is a serious restriction going on and I am REALLY hoping that we can figure out a way to clean out any gunk in there... any ideas on the BEST way to ensure you clean this out will be greatly appreciated.


This place is awsome to military so I decided to let them have a go at it... in fact after they replaced the lifters and it didn't fix it they asked if they could keep the car and keep trying to figure out what is wrong and they aren't charging me any more for this. The mechanic is really baffled by this and its his mission to at least FIGURE out what is wrong. He told me he hasn't ever had a SBC beat him... I just hope this one isn't the first.

AL