ticking noise from head cylinder one exhaust side

[night-rider]

so i just rebuilt my engine and used a remanufactured cylinder head, it came complete and i never tore it down to chekc clearances or anything. there is a semi loud ticking noise from number one on the exhaust side, most noticible at idle noise goes away when rpm is increased to over 1000, seems a little worse when hot also, i removed the valve cover and checked all the valve lash within spec, seems highly unlikely to have a weak spring on a reman head? i will pull the cams and inspect the springs ect but i dont think im going to find anything obvious, has anyone ran into something like this before?

[interested!]

Originally Posted by night-rider

so i just rebuilt my engine and used a remanufactured cylinder head, it came complete and i never tore it down to chekc clearances or anything. there is a semi loud ticking noise from number one on the exhaust side, most noticible at idle noise goes away when rpm is increased to over 1000, seems a little worse when hot also, i removed the valve cover and checked all the valve lash within spec, seems highly unlikely to have a weak spring on a reman head? i will pull the cams and inspect the springs ect but i dont think im going to find anything obvious, has anyone ran into something like this before?

Hi!
I had the same type of noise on my brand new car -the garage found it ( I complained every time it went for a service ) after 12000 miles of gently running in --PISTON SLAP!!!!!!!! this was due to a slightly undersized piston fitted at first build that would rock at each stroke ( figure of eight ) giving the impression that I had a noisy cam / rocker ( the engine was a 4 cylinder - centre cam -V - mounted valves operated by rockers ) The garage rebored it and ground the crank under warranty for me and cured the problem.

[El Supracabras]

You sure it's not an exhaust leak between the head and manifold? The exhaust studs can loosen and let it leak past the gasket. It can sound just like a tick at idle. Look for black soot around the ports.

[Green7mgte]

instead of a tick wouldn't it be a put put putt.. depending on the size I guess..

[night-rider]

i highly doubt it is piston slap when using a stethoscope on the exhaust cam cover at number one cylinder it is most noticable, and definately not an exhaust leak, i have read some people have noticed a noise like this that goes away when the cam position sensor bolt is loosened off and have added a very thin shim inbetween the sensor and head, i will try and loosen it off to see but i really doubt it will do anything, although the cut on the cam gear on this reman head does appears far sharper than on my original head, i cant see it making much noise

[night-rider]

i should also add that the noise seems to be more of a valvetrain frequency, and can barely be heard with the hood closed if your outside the vehicle, and cannot be heard inside the vehicle

[interested!]

Hi!
Thanks for your feedback ,
My problem ( piston slap ) took the garage and me 12000 miles to find the problem and it was a complete surprise for everyone , as it sounded for all the world like a " gappy " rocker , and the fact that the car was brand new.
Questions? - have you still got your old cylinder head? - if so , has the cam worn on the " new " head's exhaust cam at the number one cylinder position ?
I remember seeing a camshaft where the nitriding had worn away and the cam lobes had started to dissappear ,this was a real metal-maker , are the lobes all the same? maybe worth a look.