Sbc 350 lifter tick help

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Ryanbrown36

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2024
Posts
66
Reaction score
55
Location
Ontario, Canada
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
350
I recently swapped a mildly built 355 into my truck and now has a lifter tick. I’ve put about 4000km on the motor and it was broken in before I bought it, and recently hearing a lifter tick, still getting oil through the rockers and they all appear to be opening the same amount. Was told it has comp cams heavy duty roller rockers, lifters and valve springs, and has a comp cams magnum camshaft. Did my valve lash again, checked manifolds, exhaust leaks but don’t know what to try next, added some atf to the oil a few days ago but the noise is still there. Still feels fast and solid but don’t really want to wipe out a cam lobe. Should I just buy new lifters and replace them. And if so any recommendations on lifters, thanks
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
3,521
Reaction score
10,270
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Mechanical fuel pump?

I had one on my 76 that the pivot pin for the arm was free to move around and it rattled, sounded a lot like a lifter ticking. Being it's can driven, it will also run at 1/2 speed like the lifters.
 

Ryanbrown36

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2024
Posts
66
Reaction score
55
Location
Ontario, Canada
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
350
Mechanical fuel pump?

I had one on my 76 that the pivot pin for the arm was free to move around and it rattled, sounded a lot like a lifter ticking. Being it's can driven, it will also run at 1/2 speed like the lifters.
I thought that but wasn’t sure how to check, the fuel pump is new with the swap but doesn’t mean it’s not bad, should I just try replacing it?
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
3,521
Reaction score
10,270
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Use a long screwdriver or a piece of hose as a stethoscope and with the engine running stick one end on the pump and the other on your ear and listen.

The one I had fail like that wasn't that old, maybe a year or two old. Still pumped fine. Removed it and it fell apart.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
6,717
Reaction score
11,495
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Are all your pushrids rotating while the engine runs?
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
4,257
Reaction score
6,578
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
I recently swapped a mildly built 355 into my truck and now has a lifter tick. I’ve put about 4000km on the motor and it was broken in before I bought it, and recently hearing a lifter tick, still getting oil through the rockers and they all appear to be opening the same amount. Was told it has comp cams heavy duty roller rockers, lifters and valve springs, and has a comp cams magnum camshaft. Did my valve lash again, checked manifolds, exhaust leaks but don’t know what to try next, added some atf to the oil a few days ago but the noise is still there. Still feels fast and solid but don’t really want to wipe out a cam lobe. Should I just buy new lifters and replace them. And if so any recommendations on lifters, thanks
Check the fuel pump for sure. I had a couple that sounded like a lifter. Parts store pumps are junk. They took out my cam lobe eventually.

You can't just swap lifters, cam and lifters are a mated package. If you want to chance it and find the lifter that's the culprit you can try replacing the one and hope they mate. But that decision is on you.
 

Ryanbrown36

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2024
Posts
66
Reaction score
55
Location
Ontario, Canada
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
350
Use a long screwdriver or a piece of hose as a stethoscope and with the engine running stick one end on the pump and the other on your ear and listen.

The one I had fail like that wasn't that old, maybe a year or two old. Still pumped fine. Removed it and it fell apart.
Okay hopefully that’s it, will check that tomorrow, thanks
 

Ryanbrown36

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2024
Posts
66
Reaction score
55
Location
Ontario, Canada
First Name
Ryan
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
350
Check the fuel pump for sure. I had a couple that sounded like a lifter. Parts store pumps are junk. They took out my cam lobe eventually.

You can't just swap lifters, cam and lifters are a mated package. If you want to chance it and find the lifter that's the culprit you can try replacing the one and hope they mate. But that decision is on you.
Okay, I didn’t build the motor myself so not too knowledgeable about valve train stuff so that makes sense, will do some more research so I understand more. Hopefully it’s the fuel pump
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
6,717
Reaction score
11,495
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Using a new lifter on a used cam is not necessarily a deal breaker, lifters used to get warrantied out,without tearing down the engine. Look at the lifter make sure it still has a crown,if it's flat or dished, I don't think you will be okay. With the engine running you can push on the rockers with the heal of your hand to identify the bad lifter.. Because all the push rods are rotating I think you'll get away with a lifter swap.Make darn sure it's not a plug wire,plug boot,exhaust flapper,first though. Treat your new lifter like it was a new cam and lifter,do a break in and verify that the pushrod is spinning with the engine running.Of course in a perfect world you'd change the cam and lifters,but real world if you have to replace one or two just do the verifications I told you.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
45,752
Posts
991,539
Members
38,889
Latest member
Klub_79
Top