Have issues after headswap

[Ed Galanda]

Ok took me forever and now having some serious racket going on. I never removed cams gears. I did advance them 1*, which was never an issue prior on driver side and would be ok on passenger side(which I keep retarded 2* since it was ground with 2* advance over driver side). Thats with stock PI intake valves. Made sure chains were on mark on crank gear and on marks of cam gears. New oil pump worked good. Built pressure right away and I did prime pump by pouring oil in outlet and turning it by hand before installing. Only other thing new was the metal body chain tensioners which seem to work nice. Soon as I pulled clip out they popped out tight against guides.

I did reuse my lash adjusters and since last oil change did seem to be slightly noisy first thing in morning but went away with rpm. I am so hoping this is what is wrong. Some when removed I could move the tip in and out slightly by hand getting oil to come out and other were solid and wouldn't budge. Most my noise seems to be coming from under driver side valve cover. Which is loud.

Spent three damn days on this fighting with crap only to turn key and (loud) tap tap tap

[Quick99]

Do a compressin or leakdown test. See if you bent some valves?

[Bill Putnam]

So the only things that really changed are the heads themselves and the chain tensioners? You just took your old cams and put them in the new heads?

[Ed Galanda]

Originally Posted by Bill Putnam

So the only things that really changed are the heads themselves and the chain tensioners? You just took your old cams and put them in the new heads?

Pretty much yes.

Had #1 piston at TDC, crank gear timing mark which is at 6 o'clock and lined up chain correctly. Made sure chains never moved untill clip was released on tensioners

Like I mentioned. I had advanced the cams 1* on both sides which worked good prior. I just kept them at 113*ICL after the intial issues last year when I installed the cams more for a peace of mind and had no real issues.

I just ordered 16 lash adjusters(Sealed Power) and hope to have them tommorrow at earliest. I will have to get valve covers off and check that followers all stayed on. Maybe try putting cams back to where I use to have them and fire it up and see if the noise lessens/goes away or doesn't change.

Just tired and frustrated. I'd as sooner finish my 351w and put it in the car before I rip this motor back down again.

[nickmckinney]

Those cams at 113 intake centerline only have 0.030" of clearance with those heads/valves if everything was done perfect. Do a compression test asap as I have had 3 other people bend valves with those cams and my heads. Stock valves will take some PTV without failing, all aftermarket SS valves will bend easily as SS is a softer material.

[96SOHC]

Ed, what cams are you using?

[Ed Galanda]

So I basically screwed myself with 1* advance Not a whole lot I can do anytime soon other then yanking valve covers and backing the timing off 1* or more and hope for the best. Not time to even toss original heads back on.

This is what I had from cam install last year. Cleaned for headswap. 110* had hit and 112* didn't


Same side #1 cyl

[Ed Galanda]

Originally Posted by 96SOHC

Ed, what cams are you using?

Hitech stg2's

[Quick99]

Well a couple more times and your pistons should be notched sufficiently.

[Ed Galanda]

Originally Posted by Quick99

Well a couple more times and your pistons should be notched sufficiently.

LOL, ok you got me to laugh.