Hey guys, I'm adjusting the lifters again (like I said in my build thread) and have two quick questions.
First, will rockers that are too TIGHT cause lifter noise also? The driver side lifters were too loose the first time, so we tightened to 1 full turn and they all quieted down to basically silent. But there's one on the passenger side that started making noise after also tightening them to 1 full turn (why I'm adjusting again).

And second, how much of a mess would I make by starting the engine with the valve cover off? (My cold oil pressure is usually 50-70) Cause it'd make identifying the offending lifter A LOT easier.

Quick answers are hugely appreciated, since I'm on a time crunch today! lol

 

Super impatient bump! :P lol

 

they will only sound if busted inside due to overtightnen, other than that it just need calibration.

I prefer to do it olskool, no valve covers, real messy, get a cardboard, cut it to the size of the head, this will hold some of the oil. Use a short hose to hear the lifter on site....

worked for me every time

 

are they stock lifters? stock rockers? if not stock u need to see what the manufacture says to set them at. i set the lifters while the motor is running. pretty easy to hear em clicking. with a stock setup i set them 1/2 turn in while running and then shut the motor off and turn the other 1/2 turn. leave the other cover on while setting so mess is not so bad.

 

Alright guys, they're readjusted. Went to start it and whatdya know the battery died literally half a second after it was running! :P So now it's charging and we'll fire it up again as soon as it's done. (For the half second it was on I couldn't hear any ticking - lol)

 

another tip, when too tight, tends to run hotter, I just adjust to no sound, and then start loosing some until click, then half turn adjust.

 

Alright guys, after going through the passenger side rockers for a third time I believe they are all good to go! But, I still have a ticking noise on that side. >.< I'm 99.9999999% sure it isn't a valve/rocker/lifter though, since the valvetrain is so f-ing quiet! You can hear the ticking noise when you just stand there looking at the side of the engine, but if you do the old screwdriver-to-valve cover/intake manifold/head trick, you get zero noise. (properly adjusted lifters/valves+scorpion rockers=silence! )

This leads me to believe that the noise I'm hearing is actually an exhaust leak at the flange! Other evidence points to this, since the passenger bank of cylinders is running very rich (if there's extra O2 finding it's way in, the O2 sensor is gonna cause more fuel to be dumped). Having TD's makes it so much easier to figure out which side is having the problem without scanning (especially when the SES light isn't on/it's not throwing codes!). So I suppose my question is this: Would an exhaust leak at the header flange potentially cause a rich condition?
My dad is gonna try to tighten all the bolts down this week sometime (if he can get to/reach them), since we forgot to after all the times the car was started/driven. >.< I'm sure they've all been vibrated out a little bit.

And on an unrelated note, is it possible to have a vacuum leak without idle/rpm issues, fueling issues, etc., etc.? I've heard that LE's ported intake and 58mm TBs can have a characteristic air-sucking or even whistling noise, but I wanna make sure I don't have a gigantic vacuum leak. lol

Thanks guys! I'm working on the vids, btw. I should be able to get them over my spring break, so just gotta be patient! :P