What's that sound?!?!

[Xticee]

So after a few weeks of work, I finally got the cam (XE270HR) swaped, timing chain replaced, installed new balancer, engine buttoned back up and am pretty stoked that the car fired back up. It even seemed to idle pretty decently for not being warmed up. Unfortunately it now has a strange knocking sound coming from the front passenger side of the engine. So there goes my stoke. From the short time I heard it, it was kind of a random knocking, but it was constant. Engine seem to have ran pretty decent, but I haven't revved it much beyond 2k rpm.

Anyhow, I haven't run it since I first heard the knock. Sorry no sound clip so I know it'll be tough to say for sure, but what do you guys think it could be? Loose rocker arm? Timing chain?

Thanks for any help,
Jay

 

[juiced_94gt]

almost 100% positive it's a lose rocker, you have to go through your VT again.

 

[StinkinLincoln]

yea a loose rocker makes some noise, that cam makes more valvetrain noise, nature of the beast, btw i have the same cam.

 

[Xticee]

Thanks guys. I'd like to say it's just the cam, but it's only coming from around the #1 cylinder. The rocker arms were torqued to 23ft lbs and zero lash seemed to be acheived, but i'm not ruling anything out. Anyhow, I just started it up again and got a small video clip w/my phone but don't really know how to post a clip. I could feel it when I put my hand on the alternator and was hoping it was a bad bearing or somehting, but when I took the belt off the pulley spun freely w/no unusual friction. Then I started thinking maybe it's the rocker hitting the stock valve cover, but I put thicker gaskets on and I couldn't feel any tapping on the valve cover. I also pulled the oil fill cap off and put my ear to it and didn't hear it any louder or any unusual noise there which I thought I might if it was a loose rocker.

Guess I'll dig back into the VT. On the bright side, with gas hitting $3.86/gal, it's almost more enjoyable working on it than driving it.....almost.

Stinkin.....how do you like the cam? I did a bunch of research before I picked it up and read all good things about it. I'm hoping it puts me up in the 300rwhp range with my X305 heads and gt40/SVO intake combo. Just got to fix this knocking first.

Jay

 

[legalize420]

The rocker arms were torqued to 23ft lbs and zero lash seemed to be acheived

i would suggest you do some more research on the subject. are those heads ped or stud mount rockers? your supposed to find zero lash first, then torque. there is alot more to it than that though. you should really measure for the correct lenght pushrod and valvetrain geometry

 

[Xticee]

Sorry, that statement was a bit misleading. The rockers are ped mount FRPP 1.6 and I followed the procedures I had, rotate engine to get lifters onto the base circle, tighten to zero lash, torque to 18-25ft lbs. Seemed kinda redundant to tighten to zero lash if you're just going to torque to spec anyhow, btu that's what I had to go by.

I'll be going back through the valve train again and I'll make sure to check the geometry as well. I did get zero lash though, wonder if the lifter to compress fully when I adjusted it.

Thanks for the advice,
Jay

 

[legalize420]

the reson for finding zero lash is because you are supposed to hit the torque within 1/4 to 3/4 of a turn. any more or less and something is not right and will require shims or different pushrods. thats really only half of it. i would pick up a pushrod length checker and a pack of shims and go from there.

 

[Xticee]

Will do, thanks for the clarification & direction!

Jay

 

[juiced_94gt]

the reson for finding zero lash is because you are supposed to hit the torque within 1/4 to 3/4 of a turn. any more or less and something is not right and will require shims or different pushrods. thats really only half of it. i would pick up a pushrod length checker and a pack of shims and go from there.

this is 100% the truth here

 

[juiced_94gt]

oh and if you have stock 94-95 stang VC's your rockers will not clear if you have the B351 rockers wich is what I have.

 

[StinkinLincoln]

pull a rocker, look ontop the valve, look at the wear mark, where is it at and how wide is the mark? that tells you if the pushrod it too long, short, or just right.

the cam isnt too bad, i seem to think i can do better with a custom cam and bigger heads. that cam pulls real nice at 3k all the way to 6k, even off idle its pretty good.

im pretty sure my converter and 3.27's are holding me back...0-60mph in 6 sec

 

[Xticee]

Well, I pulled it apart tonight and rockers were tight and lash seemed good. I re adjusted them anyways and they hit 23ft lbs just over 1/2 turn more. looking at th efirst rocker arm (cyl #1) I can see where it's hitting the side of the valve cover so I think I found the problem. Looks like the stock VCs are warped at the bolt holes from being over tightened (maybe by me, maybe by previous owner) and don't allow much play to reposition them on the heads. So I figure I can 1) take a hammer to VC to give more room or 2) buy new VCs. If I go the latter, anyone know of a VC hat will give more clearance?

I appreciate the help guys!
Jay

 

[SublimeRT]

Perhaps some Fox body valve covers or the Trick Flow ones.

 

[hollywoodstang]

I used the FOX body valve covers. I had to do some A LOT of grinding...Took me forever and the neck is tight. I am thinking about chopping the neck off and put weld-on cap to lower the neck somehow... but it's gonna be pain in the butt.

I have B351 as well.

So what is the part # for the trick flow that clears this rockers? if i can just bolt it on and clears i am all for it

Sounds like this guy needs it too.

Thanks

 

[Xticee]

I'd like to know which trick flows work as well and do they come w/oil filler tube? I tried doubling up on the gasket, but that didn't do much for me so I'm looking at VCs. I found a pair of '94 specific from Joe Heck Racing, but they're pretty pricey.

I'm starting to think that grinding the corner of the rocker is the solution.

 

[96stangRC]

I had the same problem with my FRPP 1.6 rockers not clearing the stock valve covers so I bought Anderson Ford Motorsport chrome valve covers part #AF-PKCVC for $70 and they work great. Had to run a 3/8 intake spacer to clear my upper intake but other than that, they fit fine.

 

[hollywoodstang]

I'd like to know which trick flows work as well and do they come w/oil filler tube? I tried doubling up on the gasket, but that didn't do much for me so I'm looking at VCs. I found a pair of '94 specific from Joe Heck Racing, but they're pretty pricey.

I'm starting to think that grinding the corner of the rocker is the solution.

I was going to do this too but i had chrome ford racing fox body valve covers so i decided to use these and OMG they are pain in the ass to make it fit over the roller rockers...

I don't think grinding on the roller rockers are very good idea... I rather grind the valve covers some more.

I am about ready to give up grinding already. I have heard anderson ford motorsports valve covers leak... and they are NOT aluminum.

Someone grind my valve covers for me. I will pay you. LOL

 

[StinkinLincoln]

i have the $40 alum eddy vc's from summit, they work great, i had to lightly dent in the top on pass side for the tb elbow where the smog bolted up. other than that, no prob.

 

[Xticee]

Lucky me, it turned out to be the belt tensioner slamming against the stop. Man, that's a scary sound for a not so scary problem. Squeezed on a shorter belt and noise is gone. No new VCs needed! Thanks for all help guys!

Now I got a minor turn signal/hazard issue to deal with.

Jay