Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers

Posted By: dfsmopars

Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:04 AM

Tonight I installed new Hughes adjustable SS roller rockers to quieten down some top side ticking. Unfortunately the sound is still there. The ticking is mainly on the left bank and sounds the same as when I had the stock rockers and push rods. Anyone who wants to go through the preload procedure please go ahead. I'd like to see if my method was good. With the zero preload and then 2.5 turns to preload it I thought there were only about 3-4 threads actually engaged.
This is a 5.9 Magnum. Could it be that there is going to be a certain amount of ticking I have to get accustomed too?

Posted By: radar

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:11 AM

What cam is in there? What parts are you trying to make work together?

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:12 AM

It's not a broken flexplate is it?

I had one that sounded just like a lifter/valvetrain tick and it had a small crack in the flexplate.

Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:19 AM

The cam is a roller cam from Hughes. Heads are RHS. Pistons are KB at .03 over and .017 above block deck. Edelbrock intake with an AFB. The flexplate came from a 2002 Ram so I could hook the Magnum to the 904.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:57 AM

Which brand hydraulic roller lifters are you using

Posted By: WheelsUp73

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 06:46 AM

At 0 lash you should only turn the adjuster 1/2 turn max, for preload.
What is the thickness of your head gasket?

Attached picture 7188842-DodgeDart4-18-12.jpg

Attached picture 7188842-DodgeDart4-18-12.jpg

Posted By: BigBlockMopar

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 08:24 AM

Leaky header-gasket?

Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 10:58 AM

Quote:

Leaky header-gasket?

I have wondered about that and checked but I cannot tell. How is the best way to find it if there is a gasket leak?

The head gasket is .052 thick and all the valve train came new from Hughes.

Unless I did not understand I took the nut down on the rocker until the push rod would spin but with resistance (0 pre-load) and then turned it 2.5 times and locked it.

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 01:31 PM

Quote:

Which brand hydraulic roller lifters are you using

He didn't mention the Roller lifter....only the Roller Rockers

and from the brief installation of the Harland Roller rockers that I have used (for a week now) 2.5 turns is way too much. I was told to use 1/2 a turn after the pushrod stops turning in your hand

You sure you don't have a collapsed lifter? I still have one but the car is gonna sit for a while until I figure out if I am going to remove the intake and rebuild the lifter AGAIN. Or buy another lifter and put it in its place.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 01:35 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Leaky header-gasket?

I have wondered about that and checked but I cannot tell. How is the best way to find it if there is a gasket leak?

The head gasket is .052 thick and all the valve train came new from Hughes.

Unless I did not understand I took the nut down on the rocker until the push rod would spin but with resistance (0 pre-load) and then turned it 2.5 times and locked it .

\
Who told you that??

I bet you have damage...

A exhaust leak can be found with a 1/4" id plastic tube held up to your ear and the motor, it works good.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 01:37 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Which brand hydraulic roller lifters are you using

He didn't mention the Roller lifter....only the Roller Rockers

and from the brief installation of the Harland Roller rockers that I have used (for a week now) 2.5 turns is way too much. I was told to use 1/2 a turn after the pushrod stops turning in your hand

You sure you don't have a collapsed lifter? I still have one but the car is gonna sit for a while until I figure out if I am going to remove the intake and rebuild the lifter AGAIN. Or buy another lifter and put it in its place.

Since he said he had a roller cam, I bet he has roller lifters.

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:09 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Which brand hydraulic roller lifters are you using

He didn't mention the Roller lifter....only the Roller Rockers

and from the brief installation of the Harland Roller rockers that I have used (for a week now) 2.5 turns is way too much. I was told to use 1/2 a turn after the pushrod stops turning in your hand

You sure you don't have a collapsed lifter? I still have one but the car is gonna sit for a while until I figure out if I am going to remove the intake and rebuild the lifter AGAIN. Or buy another lifter and put it in its place.

Since he said he had a roller cam, I bet he has roller lifters.

My fault...I didn't see his second post

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:16 PM

Quote:

.017 above block deck.

I am no engine builder...but when you put it together, did you put play-doh on the piston, crank down your valve train and adjust the "2.5 turns", rotate your assembly a few times and make sure your valve wasn't slapping the piston (or making an indentation in the playdoh)

I was worried the larger valves were going to smack my pistons because I have flat tops. I used the above method and made sure I was in the clear.

Posted By: TinCuda

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 04:21 PM

Rhoads brand lifters make a ticking sound. Maybe some others do also.

.,

Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 05:30 PM

Quote:

Rhoads brand lifters make a ticking sound. Maybe some others do also.

If that were the case I'd live with it. However, right now I don't know if I have to live with it.

I was told by Hughes that the lifter I bought from them likes a lot (.08") of preload, hence 2 to 2.5 turns.
I did not use the putty on the pistons, which in hindsight would have been a good idea. According to the setup with the RHS heads and pistons there was no concern about interference but then anything is possible.

Posted By: Mopar73340

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 06:29 PM

If he is using the factory lifters as I am on my Magnum 408, they need the extra preload as Hughes recommends. I did the typical Chebby 1/2-3/4 and they were really noisy. Then went to 1 1/2 and they were a little better. Even after adjusting 2-2 1/4 the engine still has a good bit of noise from the top end. (Not so much a lifter tick) but there is noise. I'm also running Hughes cam and hughes roller rockers.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 07:41 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I was told by Hughes that the lifter I bought from them likes a lot (.08") of preload, hence 2 to 2.5 turns.

Which rockers are you using? The reason I'm asking is on most adjsutable rocker arms the adjusters are 3/8 diameter with 24 threads per inch, which means one full turn is .042 at the lifter, the rocker arm ratio multiplys so I normally try 1/4 to 1/2 turn preload and then drive it some so the lifters get a chance to pump back up from adjusting them. If you have the stock late model rockers like SB Fords and Chevy disregard my procedure

Posted By: dfsmopars

Re: Still ticking after new adjustable roller rockers - 05/02/12 09:07 PM

Quote:

If he is using the factory lifters as I am on my Magnum 408, they need the extra preload as Hughes recommends. I did the typical Chebby 1/2-3/4 and they were really noisy. Then went to 1 1/2 and they were a little better. Even after adjusting 2-2 1/4 the engine still has a good bit of noise from the top end. (Not so much a lifter tick) but there is noise. I'm also running Hughes cam and hughes roller rockers.

Maybe lifter ticking is not what I am hearing. Maybe it is just noise. The rockers are the 350 GM rockers. The rods Hughes sent me are longer than the factory ones.