Nevermind the upload date I just had the Camaro stored a way for a long time and just now had a chance to tear into it. I tried adjusting valve lash previously on the passenger side with no luck. I pulled the intake manifold tonight and checked all the lifters on the passenger side and all are hard and full of oil-I can't compress them with a pushrod. I haven't checked the driver's side yet, but the noise was very clearly coming from the passenger side bank. I plan on pulling the driver's side rockers and lifters next and replacing the passenger side header gasket.

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Loose valve. Could be a dead lifter.

 

I adjusted lash previously and couldn't get it any quieter. I pulled the lifters on the passenger side and they are solid-I can't depress the plunger in any of them-is there another way to inspect the lifters with them out of the car? I agree I really think it's valvetrain, but I don't see a smoking gun. Ironically I diagnosed and fixed a stuck lifter in the neighbor's tahoe Sunday, his sound was similar and a rocker was obviously loose due to the lifter-but none of mine were. My BLM's were also off on the passenger side bank when I scanned it previously with the engine running.

 

Just because you pulled it and it was firm to your touch doesn't mean that when it's in a running engine it isn't bad. I have had dead lifters in the past that felt fine by hand but could not function properly in the engine.

 

It is def. a lifter I would just start replacing them slowly how many miles on them anywayz?

 

43K miles it's a low mileage B4C. I haven't driven it much in the past two years before that I autocrossed every weekend for a few years so it's been all over the rev limiter. I think I have it set at 6K rpm's. I'm just surprised. The engine literally looks brand new it's so clean inside. I guess it's a freak thing plus the high rpm's.

 

Throw in a can of Marvel Mystery Oil and see what happens

 

I pulled the remaining rockers, pushrods and lifters from the driver's side and see nothing. All the lifters are pumped up-can't compress them, the pushrods are straight and no abnormal wear on the valvestems, lifters or rockers that I can see.

At this point would the best thing to do is just replace all the lifters and put the intake manifold back on and see what it does? I just hate throwing new parts at something without seeing a smoking gun.

Thanks.

 

I'd take the advice from speedy about mystery oil. I had some valve train noise that wasn't near as loud as that mind you, but it was enough to annoy me, so i decided to try a bottle of mmo and it quieted everything up.

It can't hurt. Although as loud as yours is.. almost seems like a long shot.

 

I would check push rods, spin them and see if one is bent. Also go get a old valve cover and cut the top off and install it. Start the engine and check each rocker to see if something looks funny.

You can hear but not see the problem..

 

I removed the entire valvetrain minus the cam and found no bent pushrods, broken springs, bent or funny wear on valve stem tips, no wear on rockers, and no appreciable wear on the lifters or any collapsed. The heads and block were spotless-literally looked brand new thanks to synthetic oil. I should've taken a picture.

In short brand new set of Federal Mogul lifters adjusted 1/2 turn past zero lash with the engine off and cold and no more noise....the engine is quiet and smooth. I could've gone with LS7 lifters but I didn't want to change pushrods as mine are the factory hardened ones. Plus I'll probably ditch these lifters when I get a cam next year.