Ok, so recently I installed a brand new 5.9l long block into my white turd. During the install I put on a set of headers, injectors, and a new hughes intake. Since day 1 I've had a tick that only comes during acceleration between 1400 rpms and 2000 rpms. After before and after that the noise basically disappears. At first I thought maybe it was a lifter that just hadn't pumped up completely so I just let it be. The noise never disappeared though, but wouldn't do it unless your in gear and accelerating.

So I started to eliminate things that it could be and the first thing was the lifters. I torn off the valve covers and ran the truck carefully listening to all the rockers and lifters with a mechanics stethoscope. No noise from them during normal running or under load (brake on). Next, I eliminated all intake leaks and exhaust leaks. So then I decided to start running only 93 octane in the truck. After 5 fill ups, that didn't fix the issue either. As of the last week the noise is now coming and going periodically. Sometimes I can drive to work (20 miles) and it's quiet as can be. Other times it sounds like a jackhammer going to town.

So before I start beating the truck with a sledgehammer I have decided to come ask others if they have any ideas. This truck is amazing and is worth the work, but it's a little annoying going down the road. Oil pressure is good, coolant temp is good, no bottom end noise, no serpentine system noise, no other issues at all.

 

Could you post an audio clip of the noise?

 

How large of a file can it be?

 

Don't know. Doesn't have to be real long though, just long enough that we can hear the noise good.

 

So I'll have to wait to do this because it has disappeared again. More than likely will be back once I get out of work today. It sounds exactly like a lifter tick and goes up with the RPM, but as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator it disappears. It'll reappear if you reapply the pedal also.
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This is the annoyance I'm dealing with... sounds exactly like a lifter tick but ONLY does it when in gear and on the gas.

 

Your right, that sounds a lot like lifter tick. Have you check that the rocker arms bolts are properly torqued? Where did you get the engine from? Have you had a chat with them yet??

 

Yes sir. I've even checked to make sure the lifters are pumping up, but it's weird that it's only doing it during loaded use. I can rev up the engine all I want in Neutral and park with no issues at all. It's just got me a little confused.

 

More stress on the system when the engine is under load..... I would have a chat with the folks you got it from, and see what they suggest.

Could it be spark knock???? EDIT: Ok, see it didn't change with higher octane fuel, so, that's out.

 

I have to pull the intake here in the next couple days or so because I have a slight leak from the back section near the distributor. So maybe when I have it off I will just pull them and check them out. See if maybe there is just a bad one lol. But then again, the noise has been coming and going so maybe it will slowly disappear. It hasn't affected the performance or anything just more of an annoyance lol. I am also waiting to hear back from Comp Cams to see what they recommend for my setup. The truck had already been gone through with HP tuner for the deletions of many things hahaha