LT1 Camaro--It starts, it runs, but it doesn't sound right...

WIspartan1026

Forum Member
So here's the backstory: I took the car apart the first week in July, replaced the lifters, deleted EGR, and deleted AIR (another emissions thing on LT1 cars used to heat up the cats. Since I don't have cats...). Had a base cal done on the PCM by an experienced LT1 tuner. Finally got it all put back together, and started it up for the first time last night. Here's the result:

LT1 startup - YouTube

I only let it run for the two minutes because I got scared and shut it off. I figured out this morning that the oil pressure gauge issue was that the wire to the plug got severed somehow:

IMG_20121012_074332.jpg



Any thoughts on the noise issue though? I was pretty confident I did the valve adjustment right, I followed the procedure on shbox.com. Being that the lifters are brand new, does it just take time for oil to get circulated through them? I also had a friend who suggested running the motor around 2500 rpm for a bit to work the lifters harder and get oil through them. They're hydraulic roller lifters, just OEM replacements (nothing special).
 
Are you sure your rockers are adjusted right? Did you happen to soak any of the valvetrain parts in oil before install? Im gonna guess that you adjusted the rockers when the lifters were not pumped up, so I would say try adjusting the rockers now that their is some oil in them....
 
That website you listed must be where you went wrong lol. Hydraulic lifters need to be pumped up before any adjustments can me made (as stated above my post). A good hydraulic lifter will hold prime for 30-45 minutes. After that it will need to be RE primed. That guys method for setting your pre load is just plane retarded. I would NOT listen to whatever friend told you to run the engine harder to pump them up. Hydraulic lifters will pump up in a few seconds idling.
 
Thanks for the responses. I didn't know going in that hydraulic lifters should be soaked in oil before installation. I'm going to re-do the valve adjustment this week.
 
Thanks for the responses. I didn't know going in that hydraulic lifters should be soaked in oil before installation. I'm going to re-do the valve adjustment this week.

They don't have to be, but you you really need a good technique and practice to set preload, its easier when they are oil filled.....I can do them dry, but I've had lots of practice, I can set them dry when building the motor, and not need to reset them
 
Thanks for the responses. I didn't know going in that hydraulic lifters should be soaked in oil before installation. I'm going to re-do the valve adjustment this week.

You don't need to soak them in oil. Loosen up your valve covers and fire the engine up for a few minutes until its warm. Lifter will be pumped up then. Adjust them in your firing order to avoid any confusion. After about 20-30min make sure you didn't leave anything loose and fire the engine back up for a minute, then continue on. This is by far the easiest, most trouble free way there is.
 
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