rocketman8

Hi guys, I've got a 55' 324, newly rebuilt that's making a almost lifter sound low, up front... noise can best be heard through the oil filler tube... any thoughts ???

Olds64

Is the noise constant when the engine is running, or does it subsided quickly? You can use a mechanic's stethoscope (or length of vacuum hose stuck it in your ear) to help isolate the ticking.

Tedd Thompson

Describe the tick or thump. A stuck lifter tick is usually a higher up noise and sometimes tinny compared to a rod or main. Did you replace the lifters on the rebuild? By chance did you use SBC lifters rather than Olds lifters.

I would first give the engine a good flush and filter change, then try a different oil.... Tedd

rocketman8

Hi guys... first thank you for your inputs... The noise is constant when running... we thought it was a lifter, then 4 mechanics standing under the car...
thought the noise was coming from the oil pan !!!...then the someone pulled the oil breather cap off n said it could be heard very good from the
oil filler tube ?????????????????????

mpolds

I will mention to you that I have exactly one set of sixteen (16) of
*** N.O.S. *** G M *** in the old *** O.E.M. G M *** boxes !!!!

Priced barely more than the Chineseum garbage that’s your alternative….

Craig…..

DFitz

Rocket man,

I have it on good authority, that you can put in the rocker shafts upside down. The problem with this is the hole for oil lubing the shafts is in the wrong place when that happens, can affect lifters. I think the hole should face down, so get the oil up into the shaft. Not sure if this is the cause since the engine was freshly rebuilt, might be worth checking. I might also be describing it wrong, but again, worth checking.

I think Ted can give more details.

rocketman8

Thank you Dfitz... well what the heck... I'll run it by the machinist, I know the rocker arm shaft was off... Thank you...

ub2693v

Thank you for posting this, when I rebuilt my rocker shaft I indeed had it upside down, I tore into the engine last night after reading this post, it certainly does make a difference, there is visible wear after only 300 miles on the rebuild, enough so that I will probably buy another set of new rocker shafts. No mention of it in the service manual, as a matter of fact it states to not remove the rocker mount with the dowel pin.

redoldsman

I made the same mistake on the 54 I had. I finally talked to Tony at Ross Racing and he told me they faced down. I then bought a set of assembled rocker arms and shaft from him and no more problems. No where in the factory service manual does it tell you which way the shafts go.