What does cam noise sound like?

[SamPet]

I appreciate that describing it in text could be totally pointless, but having read a load of threads about worn cams, I'm hearing a ticking/light clattering noise. Is this normal?

[carbon14]

on my car one lobe was simply circular..., another almost circular and 2 slightly worn, the rest ok... and with this kind of funky mix, the car was still driving ok at low-mid range, but was clearly missing power at high rpm, the rattling was starting at 4'800 and at 5'200 it was like if the car had a rev limiter, the engine was not breathing anymore, like the end of the power/torque curve.
unfortunately I guess the wear can happen differently...
Is your car missing power ?
C14

Edited by carbon14 on Monday 17th August 19:53

[SamPet]

Hi C14

The car runs beautifully. As I said, it may just be paranoia on my part, but it does have a *clack-clack*/*tick-tick* noise at idle and all revs beyond. Maybe that's just a charateristic of the V8, I'm new to ownership

Sam

[Pushrod-Power]

May be worth investigating this in case you have lost a rocker pad off one of the rocker arms,its only a matter of lifting the rocker covers to check.

[SamPet]

Pushrod-Power said:

May be worth investigating this in case you have lost a rocker pad off one of the rocker arms,its only a matter of lifting the rocker covers to check.

Would "The Bible" tell me how to do this?

[cookie450]

Pushrod-Power said:

May be worth investigating this in case you have lost a rocker pad off one of the rocker arms,its only a matter of lifting the rocker covers to check.

I know there are only 4 star bolts on each cover but is there a definitive list of what needs to be removed first to get at them ?
Thanks

[bobfather]

The noise you describe could easily be an exhaust manifold leak.

[rev-erend]

Tighten the ex manifold bolts .. and see if you still have the noise.

[SamPet]

I'll give it a whirl.

Are there specific torque settings for mani bolts?

Sam

[rev-erend]

It's about 13ft lbs .. steel bolt into an alloy head .. so just use a regular size ring or flat drive spanner .. and you should be fine.

[bobfather]

Exhaust header leaks are common in two locations. Manifold to head is the simple one. The other common leak point is the centre of the four into one section. This is where mine leaks and many other have commented that they have the same.

The heat and noise in the area makes it's impossible to locate an exhaust header leak by ear. I developed a method to identify the source of my leak. See here

Bobfather aka tvrbob