I have been trying to trace this noise for a while. 235 chevy six 1958, hydraulic lifters. Sounds like a "peice of foil in a fan" Started making the noise last summer. Rode around with it for a while. Good all winter, now it's back. Got out the stethoscope. Coming from #2 or 3 cyl, in the head. Only makes the tink noise (high pitched and matches rpm's) when engine is warmed up after driving for a few miles. Also makes tink noise after driving for a while, then restarting, then it quiets down until I give it gas, and get over the 2000 range in 3rd gear. Then it keeps on tinking until I push the clutch back in and get down about 2000. Sunken lifter? Bent Pushrod? I have: an exhuast leak intake (vacuum leak) Two 2 bbl holley webers Dual offy intake Fenton Headers Mallory Unilite Dist. 3 speed 10/40w Any help would be awesome. Thanks, ***o
That doesn't sound like any bad lifter I ever heard. They generally "hammer", like a solid lifter with too much clearance, which is basically what they've turned themselves into.
ALL THE EARLY CHEV 6's I HAVE HAD ALL HAD SOLID LIFTERS......... TRY PULLUNG THE SIDE COVER & VALVE COVER AND REMOVEING SUSPECT LIFTER TO SEE IF IT HAS ABNORMAL WEAR FOR A FLAT CAM. RE~ADJUST VALVES & CHECK PUSHRODS, I HAVE ALWAYS USED STRAIGHT 40wt VALVOLINE RACING OIL IN ALL MY OLDER ENGINES, MULTI~GRADE OILS APPEAR TO BE TO LIGHT FOR OLD TECH ENGINES.....
Hey ***o, I know you won't believe me, but check it anyway. I'll bet ya five... You runnin' the stock fan? Check the edges for some fresh shiney spots. And the clearance is really tight, yes? I had this happen on two old sixes. The fan would twist/tweak at certain RPMs / loads and cause a mystery 'tink' near the front of the engine. Chased that sound forever on the first one. Had the stick to my ear, thought is was coming from the 1 or 2 cylinder for sure. Then I launched some fan blades through the hood at about 3000 RPM...problem solved. Electric fan = no more 'tink tink.'
Yeah, I'm going to check the fan and water pump, before I pull the side cover off. I have a ***** of a time getting it to seal right. I was looking for some ideas on what it could be before I start taking it apart. I am also switching to a straight 40 on this car and my lady's falcon (just waiting on a good sale) Thanks, ***o
My 235 made that sound and I never could find it till one day when it got real real bad from pushing her too hard. Turns out it was mechanical fan flex. The fan was flexing too much when revved and was hitting the harmonic balancer. "tink tink tink" sometimes. Spaced it with some washers and that fixed it till I got around to taking it out and going electric.
I had one launch into my radiator - thought it was wierd, but this seems to be commoner than I thought...
I just found the same thing on My 50 chev with a 235. Rev it up and the outermost tip of the fan is hitting the crank at center. Its looks like its for manual starting like for a model T or a tractor. Can You just cut the ears off? --FEDER
Here is an idea guys...it comes from Tom Langdon...like one of the leading 6 cylinder guys out there. Worth thinking about................. After trying many of the above fixes, Grant Galbraith found 100% success by providing a small vent on each of the offending locations. Locate the noisy position and remove the lifter. Wipe with lacquer thinner and tape off the hole on the side and the entire top. Using a bench grinder, grind a "flat" on the outside of the lifter between the annulus and the top of the lifter. Grind about .005" deep. This will provide a "vent" for any air collecting in the lifter galley so that this air does not enter the lifter and cause it to be "spongy" and noisy. Oil pressure will only be reduced by approximately 1 PSI. Tom Langdon
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