ZZ4 valve addjustment

Can some one tell me why I can not get the clatter out of my ZZ4. I have tried adjusting while engine is running. Back off untill clatters then down 1/4 no luck try again even going down to 1 full turn. I remember on older engines if you went to far or to fast engine would die this one does not.
Next I spin the engine to TDC Compression stroke on #1. Adjust exhaust for 1,3,4,8 and intake of 1,2,5,7
Rotate one full turn (TDC Compression #6): adjust exhaust 2,5,6,7 and intake of 3,4,6,8

Neither way quited down the rockers what else could make the same noise? Even removed the fuel pump and belts. It is my first roller cam motor

 

I too have a ZZ4 in my roadster and was surprised the first time I fired it up as to how noisy the valve train was. After some adjustments which change nothing, I learned that it is inherently noisy because it has a roller hydraulic cam. That is what I was told. After living with it for almost 15,000 miles I dont even hear it any more. My only complaint is that it is has so much torque that I have broken two motor mounts so far.

 

That era of GM roller lifters is notorious for collapsing/noise. The only solution is to replace the offending lifters.

 

my zz4 was also noisy, had 35k on it when i sold the car. don,t worry about it, just drive it.

 

Badshifter are you saying may just be bad lifters? It runs great like others say but noise is bothersome just sounds wrong,but it does spin the tires great run hard for 350 HP.

 

ZZ4!.......seriously!!!!!

 

Yes just hard to believe Chevy would make such a noisy valve train and say live with it?

 

This is a common complaint. I read the zz4 camshaft is is made to the outer limit of the design for lift and duration.Sometimes the plate that holds the lifters is loose

 

yeah seriously..... i know of one that runs 10.70's in 93 camaro on the motor....

 

Any one know if the World Product S/R torquer 67s heads are an inprovment over stock ZZ4 heads

 

i would have to think not....you'd be giving up compression and going from aluminum to steel. which version of the zz4 do you have , since there are a few versions (or atleast there are according to ihra) a bit more price wise , but a pair 195 profilers would be a improvement , especially if you did a cam swap.

 

Don't know the type zz4 I have not even toteley sure it is one. Some say it needs to have zz4 on front tag others say its the rite block,pan,cover and heads. Only thing I do no is it makes a lot of valve noise.
Ready to buy what ever it needs it runs great but hate the valve noise.

 

It is bad lifters. Sometimes it may go away, other times is permanent. Lifter is the answer, plain and simple.

 

We don't speak Camaro on this website.....or ZZ4!

 

All of the real ZZ4 crate engines I have owned or seen ... has ZZ4 stamped on the front engine ID/VIN code pad.

I have owned a ZZZ ( first series ZZ crate engine ) a ZZ2 and a couple ZZ430's.





The valve train is some what noisy ... but they run great ... and I do not have a radio in either 32 ... so I just listen to the music of the valve train.

 

Wow you have some nice stuff. Some say they are quite and othere say a little noisy. You can here mine over the exhaust.

 

Hey Bad Bob sorry just a problem with a hot rod engine. To me a hot rod is still a car or truck or whatever we can afford with the best engine we can stuff in it and the fun of building and sharing it. I will not ask about it again.

 

the zz 1 ans zz 2 had piston slap that sounded like a mack truck running. my zz4 that i had in my 32 roadster has just turned over 100,000 miles with the same valve train noise. my quick change rear made more noise than the cam did, so it didn't bother me.

install a quick change!

-danny

 

I have an edelbrock performer roller cam and lifters in my 350. It has had lifter noise since day one . I have even replaced all the lifters. I have concluded that its the nature of the beast.The engine runs very strong, so I just listen to the exhaust. The motor has 25,000 miles and still is noisy. runs too good to bitch.

 

If you read the spec sheet for the ZZ4 from GM Performance parts they recommend the valve lash is to be set at zero lash plus 1/8 turn instead of the usual 1/2 turn. Mine is set that way and has no noise from the valve train.

 

WHY NOT ...
There are a bunch of ZZ crate engines on the HAMB.

A few people think they are the traditional POLICE ...

But there is Mustang II IFS, A/C, 700R4's and and a bunch of other things on the HAMB that are not really traditional to most. A ZZ crate is just a slightly improved and evolved 265/283 ... which is traditional IMHO.

Other opinions may vary

 

In my opinion (which should likely be taken with a grain of salt because around here I'm as good as a FNG)....

Traditional hot rodding is a state of mind.

If we want to throw rocks at each other for not being traditional enough I'm sure we could take just about any build on here and find post-'65 parts on it....if we really wanted to get that knit picky. If we did, we may as well all become restorers! That ain't my flavor fo sho!

 

That's because they figure if you bought a crate motor you don't have that much on the ball. No offense intended.

The only cure for the clatter is going to be a better set of lifters and that may not cure it totally, it could be the cam grind itself. There is no cure for bad ramps.

There is a better adjusting sequence than the one you are using. But it will not cure your noise either just be a more accurate adjustment.


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566656&highlight=adjust

Good luck

 

Some of us don't have the equipment to build an engine even if we have the ability to do so. I am 71 and live in a hoa community that won't allow me to build a engine in my garage. I had to buy a 350 zz4 in order to up grade our car. I started building in 1954 and know what it takes but at my time in life it is the only way to do it.