New engine quirks

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.

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
So, I'm new here, go easy on me...lol
I just replaced my 305 in my 87 Silverado with a stock 350. Everything is good with the engine. I'm now chasing some chirps, some minor knocking, mainly when I accelerate. Idles like a boss sounds very smooth. All the rockers were set after engine was put in. I have a video where you can hear it, hopefully I can upload.
Thanks for any advice. Can't upload the video.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
:mad::biggun::bleh::lol::gunner::hunter::mfr_closed1:



Just Kidding John, welcome and thanks for joining in.

Hopefully the knocking is some pre-ignition from your timing being to far advanced.

Do you know how to time and engine? Even by ear?
When you hit the starter does the starter labor?
 

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
My uncle has been helping me along with things. We set the timing at ’0’.
It starts right up, no problems there. Idles great, and we just changed the fuel pump this past Friday, now it really runs good. Just the noises are annoying as hell.
 

mtnmankev

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Posts
1,621
Reaction score
3,280
Location
Ash Fork, Arizona
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1984, 1983
Truck Model
K10, C20
Engine Size
383 Stroker, 350
What proceedure did you use to adjust the valves?
Please explain in detail.

An exhaust leak can make a loud ticking sound, almost like a knock, especially under acceleration.
Check the manifolds to make sure there's no issue there.
A length of hose can be used as a stethoscope so you can pinpoint any noises if the exhaust is leaking somewhere.
 

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
My uncle set the valves according to a step by step in a manual he showed me. He's done this stuff his whole life. I'm just now getting into all this at 49, a little late to the party... Lol
I was leaning towards an exhaust leak.
May try some of the things you guys are advising to me. We had the timing set at 4, that was before the fuel pump situation, so may go back to that setting.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,121
Reaction score
6,038
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
I can attest to a ticking exhaust leak noise. My park avenue(sedan, v6) has an audible note that increases with rpm but is not present under low rpm. The engine is quiet but if it were damage or wear you would hear it at idle, too. Some soap on a cold manifold told me a gasket on the block leaks on a middle cylinder at rear of engine. AKA not getting fixed till its illegal.
 

climb-101

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Posts
262
Reaction score
278
Location
montana
First Name
seth
Truck Year
974
Truck Model
c2 crew cab
Engine Size
6.0 LS
timing should not be at zero, there are tons of videos on you tube on how to set it. Also there are tons on how to do valves, i would double check those as well. if nothing else its good to know how to do them.
 

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
I have learned to set it. I've seen a lot of different opinions on what to set it on. Sticker under hood says 0. Just getting some advice.
Thanks everyone
 

mtnmankev

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Posts
1,621
Reaction score
3,280
Location
Ash Fork, Arizona
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1984, 1983
Truck Model
K10, C20
Engine Size
383 Stroker, 350
John, you are very welcome, advice is free and this site has many friendly and talented folks with lots of experience to draw upon. The info sometimes varies with their experience and situations, but you can learn a lot from them.

Usually, the sticker says what's required to meet emissions standards as dictated by our government.

Maybe I march to the beat of a different drummer, but I tune my engines by ear (I guess 50 years of practice can cause that) and I set the timing to where the engine sounds happy and doesn't labor upon starting or ping on acceleration.

An engine is just a form of an air pump, and if all is correct, it will tell you when things flow correctly and it likes it.

I find it amusing when somebody puts a timing light on the engine because they doubt I did it right, or are just curious, they find it's at 10 degrees BTDC and they're amazed at how sweet it sounds and runs.
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,240
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
So, I'm new here, go easy on me...lol
I just replaced my 305 in my 87 Silverado with a stock 350. Everything is good with the engine. I'm now chasing some chirps, some minor knocking, mainly when I accelerate. Idles like a boss sounds very smooth. All the rockers were set after engine was put in. I have a video where you can hear it, hopefully I can upload.
Thanks for any advice. Can't upload the video.
Sounds like your timing is off.
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,240
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
I have learned to set it. I've seen a lot of different opinions on what to set it on. Sticker under hood says 0. Just getting some advice.
Thanks everyone
But you no longer have that engine so don't worry what the sticker says. Granted it's still a small block Chevy...still a different engine.
 
Last edited:

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
Thanks for all the advice. The chirping sound was an exhaust leak. I plugged up the emissions ports, just not good enough... Lol... Purring like a cat now!
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,121
Reaction score
6,038
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Thanks for all the advice. The chirping sound was an exhaust leak. I plugged up the emissions ports, just not good enough... Lol... Purring like a cat now!
glad we could help. do you mean the butterfly valve thing or the one for heating air cleaner?
 

JohnV

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Louisiana
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
Not sure what you mean...lol
The old lines came out of each exhaust manifold. We didn't plug them good enough.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,857
Posts
903,628
Members
33,370
Latest member
mitchell1128
Top