ProVK

Guys,
Just put a nice basic 383 Combo onto my VS Ute, engine had to come out for some welsh plugs, so why it was out things got a little out of hand. Being a very late series 2 VS we found it had a VT Roller Block, so i fitted a 383 Stroker kit, 9:1 Comp, a 222@50 with 521 Lift Hyd Roller Cam, std heads, banna intake etc etc.

After a minor issue with a valve spring letting go in the first 80km's the heads cam off for some new springs and whilst i was there i put in some new hyd roller lifters as the valve trins seemed far too noisy for a new engine with hyd roller cam.

But i'm still having issues, the lifters bleed down when the car has been sitting for a couple of hours or more so when you fire it up they take about 3 seconds after it gets oil pressure to pump them back up, but whilst the engine is cold the valve train is very noisy, it gets better as it warms up, it actually makes it feel like it is sorta missing if you try to drive it cold, once warm it is better, but still not 100% at idle, once you get past 2000rpm it seems to start getting noisey again. Its not as bad as my soild roller in the VK, but still not good.

I have a few things that make it a little hard on the ears as so much has changed to the way the ute sounds. Its gone from a stock VS 5.0 with single 2.5in catback to a 383, mild cam, extrator and a twin 2.5in system. So my ears are hearing lots of different noises, but the valve train nose is giving me the biggest problem.

It runs 3/4 Turn preload on the lifters on the std bridge bolts and im running 25w50 oil. Its got 45psi cold idle and 20psi hot idle oil pressure, and is making over 10psi per 1000rpm on top of that hot.

Is it pumping up the lifters ? Is there too much preload ? Std Rockers Canno handle the cam? Too heaby oil?

I'm running out of ideas. It sounded just the same before i changed lifters and valve springs.

allports

You really only need .030"-.040" preload on just about any Hyd cam.

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If you plant a cucumber, you get a cucumber!
Two things are infinate,the universe & human stupidity, and Im not sure about the universe.
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allports

What is the valve spring tension at the seat and how much on the nose? What brand of lifter did you put in it?

__________________
If you plant a cucumber, you get a cucumber!
Two things are infinate,the universe & human stupidity, and Im not sure about the universe.
Albert Einstein
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. Frank Zappa

ProVK

It's got 110lb on the seat. Not sure what it was on the nose, will have to ask the bloke who fitted the springs for me.

Its now got a set of Nason Lifters in it. It was exactly the same with a set of factory holden v8 roller lifters.

PVE

What about a excessive oil leakage at a cam bearing? Maybe well off the mark.

ProVK

Wouldn't i see that as a bad drop in oil pressure ? Or a lack of oil to a pair or so of lifters/rockers ?

The noise sounds like all lifters, not jusy one or two.

allports

usually you need 120-125 on the seat of a Hyd roller with a perf' cam the nose pressure may be too high. or its exposing the oil gallery either into the valley on lift or into the crank case and no you wouldnt see that on the guage cos its constantwhen the engine runs, you did mention you oil pressure and I thought that looked a little low.

__________________
If you plant a cucumber, you get a cucumber!
Two things are infinate,the universe & human stupidity, and Im not sure about the universe.
Albert Einstein
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. Frank Zappa

PVE

Maybe the lifter is unmasking the oil gallery?
Wouldn't need much i.e. as little as 0.005".

GTR308

i normaly set em up at a 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn or .002 preload on anti pumpups (which i dont like)

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308 performance centre, perth

ProVK

Definatly not popping out the top of the lifer bores, mayby the bottom but the prevous owner of the cam did not have any issues.

Why does it get better when warm ?

GTR308

what springs have you got ? have you checked for spring bind with a solid lifter installed ? also have you got plenty of travel left in the rocker arm slot ? both these things will bleed down the lifter while not running. also do the rocker tips have any bad wear on them this can make them noisy over 2000 rpm

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308 performance centre, perth

GTR308

i agree with allports you should have between 120-130lb seat pressure and at at least 320-330lb over the nose.

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308 performance centre, perth

ProVK

Its got 110 on the seat (i would think that a lack of spring pre4ssure wouldn't give me any greif until higher in the rev range?), the springs coil bind at 590 lift, so allowing for 40thou safety they should take 550 lift all day long, my cam is only 521 thou.

Im about to go pull a rocker cover off, will have a good look at the slots in the rockers and the tips of them.

GTR308

just remember lifter will bleed down so it will be hard to check the slot travel. i would suggest to take off a pair of rockers to see if it looks like they are hitting end of slot on rocker bridge

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308 performance centre, perth

TK383

.520" lift *should* be ok, but anything approaching .600" lift with a roller cam (hyd or solid) on a holden needs to be checked to make sure the lifter is not exposing the oil gallery that feeds it slightly.
Due to factory machining tolerances & core shift galleries can be exposed with as little as .550" lift - the roller lifter sits a lot higher in the bore than a flat one.

The gallery being exposed would explain your problem, but with only .520" lift it's probably not the issue.

I would think it's just the stock rocker arms having issues with the lift rate of the cam & spring pressure over the nose - I've seen stock rocker arms deflect .040" with a moderate mech cam & much lower spring pressure. They'll rattle like a bastard if they're deflecting.

Some Street terra bolt on should fix it.