Okay, here is the issue I am having. After the inner tensioner bit the big one and scoured the oil pump I decided to replace the cam plate with the Se billet plate and upgraded oil pump. I also decided to ditch the tensioners for a gear drive and some HQ 0034 cams. I replaced the lifters with some new HD "b" lifters and kept the stock pushrods. After putting it all back together one lifter didn't seem ot want to pump up so the stocks went back in. After warming up the top end would tick.

I have tried adjustable pushrods (two sets), put the "b" lifters back in after a good prime, aligned and re-aligned the rocker boxes and still have the warm noises. Based on the theory that the billet plate is expanding more due to its larger thermal mass I replaced the inner cam gear with an oversized to take into account thermal expansion and still ticks.

I bought a set of very low milage heads off E-Bay in case I tweaked a valve or something and still noise.

When the engine is cold it sounds fantastic! I think it is quieter than before I pulled it apart. When it warms up... a co-worker with NO mechanical skills heard it from his open office window above the garage. He commented to me that things didn't sound very good. Everything sounds to me to be valve clatter or tick.

At this point I feel I have two options: 1)replace the pinion gear with the oversized gear on the theory that the thermal expansion of the cam plate creates too much lash even though the lash measured to spec when cold. 2) replace the cams and gears with the stock units and go back to the crappy tensioner setup just keeping the billet cam plate. Has anyone ever had to go to the oversized gear because of valve noise? Did it cure the noise? I like the performance that the cams give but there is NO WAY I can deal with this noise.

Thanks,

Neil
RDMC

 

Mine is basically the same. I have Andrews 26G's. It whines a bit when cold, but the top end is quiet. When it gets hot, the whine eases and the top end gets noisy. I listened to all the "experts" and changed lifters, adjusted pushrods this way and that way, and added the famed Baisley spring. Nothing helped. Now 23k miles later, I hardly notice the noise because I am used to it. I don't worry about it.

 

I read in a post here quite a while ago about a way to open up the ports on the top end to get more oil flow. You might do a search and see if you can find it -- been at least a year and maybe longer. I wonder if that could help.

 

+1... don't know anything about this "Baisley spring"... my gear drive and Andrews 37g cams gets to clackin' when it get's hot... Mobil 1 helped quite it down but Amsoil and Redline are very noisey!!!! 33k miles on my cams and gear drive and it runs great!!

 

http://baisley.com/oil_spring_product.htm

 

I use Amsoil MCV and it is a bit noisy when hot. I added some moly engine lube
http://www.molyslip.com/Products/MolySlipE.html
quieted down the noise considerably, little extra lubrication wont hurt also

http://guarddogmolylubricants.com/ is similar product available in USA

 

It has good pressure. It jusr seems to me to be a case of heat causing clearances to become greater than they should. The notion that the thicker billet cam plate having more mass and therfore more expansion when hot makes alot of sense, but, I haven't heard from alot of people that can say that "Yes, the expansion causes the issue and can be cured by..." It may be a pipe dream to get that answer, but, I figure what the hell might as well ask. If there is no cure for this noise than it is bye bye gear drive!

Neil
RDMC

 

why not just go back to the stock cam support plate? lots (probably the majority of gear drive converts) of people just use the stock plate when going to gears.

 

How do you know you need an oversize gear? Did you check runout?

Rick

 

Did you check the gear clearance? That is a must, Period. #2 You talk about noise, did you check the rockerbox shaft for worn bushings on the rocker shaft as well as too much end play? Did you check the push rods to make sure they are not hitting the side of the head were they go through the top? All the gear drive will do is give you a little whine, it will not give you a tick. That tick is the heartbeat of the engine, some beat louder than others. Mine sounds like an old tractor, but it runs like a striped azz ape, GET SOME EAR PLUGS AND RIDE THE CRAP OUT OF IT. Next Question please.