I know the EJ22 isn't known for being quiet, but this engine used to just purr at idle. The loudest noise was the fuel injectors ticking and the alternator whining. For the past week? or so since I got this thing running I have had a lot of ticking from the engine, and I can't decide if it's an exhaust leak or the valvetrain. I's not as loud as a collapsed HLA, but it's a similar type of tick. It's from both sides. It seems more prominent when the engine is cold, but it's kinda hard to tell since these are typically loud when cold anyway.

 

I have a set of delta cams installed and wonder if they make more noise than the stock cams because of the more aggressive grind?

If not then I need to start looking into the cause and get it to quiet down again.

how does it compare to piston slap? more prominent when cold.....?

 

what all did you do to it and why did you take it apart? i vaguely recall you working on this, but be helpful to have it all in this thread to simplify the discussion.

95 dual port heads on a 96 block. Engine was out for head gaskets, but found cylinder wall damage, so the block was swapped with the good one from my other car. Block has approx 192k miles and has never made noise.

Rocker assemblies were removed from the heads, cams installed, one of the spring washers on the drivers side rocker shaft was replaced (it was broken and laying in the oil pan).

 

 

I don't think it's piston slap. It's not a deep knock, it's definitely in the heads. It seems to be more from under the car which leads me to think it may be an exhaust leak from the manifolds. But I can't feel anything around the manifolds, and see no soot trails that would indicate exhaust leaking.

I would recheck the torque on the rocker assemblies. Its easy to get one on a little crooked.

 

Are the cams you installed the ones from the heads originally?

you need to redo all valve clearance and at new specs like .004 and .007:-\ cams are not as big as they usta be........ right ?

I ran into this on my Legacy. As mentioned the cam base circle is not as large, so there will be excess lash. Deltacam recommends using shims/washers under the hydraulic lash adjusters (assuming you have HLA's). Here's my thread with details on the exact washer to use.

 

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47718

Have HLAs with shims supplied by Delta installed under the adjuster.

 

I would recheck the torque on the rocker assemblies. Its easy to get one on a little crooked.

 

Are the cams you installed the ones from the heads originally?

I'll recheck the rocker assembly bolts. I'll also check lash clearance while I have the covers off.

 

Cams are original to the heads.

I had to play around with the shims a bit. After initially putting them in I swapped one or two out for another.

 

Another thing I found is that after putting the shims in initially (and I checked to confirm all the HLA's were good & bled) upon first startup I still had noise. I disassembled and found one of the HLA's to be collapsed. Upon startup a second time, I cranked the engine with the fuel pump turned off and ignitor connector disconnected. This allowed the oil pressure to build back up. I'm not sure if the startup without having immediate oil pressure behind the HLA's caused it to collapse, but that was my theory at the time.

 

So if there's any question whether you have too much lash, you may want to check the HLA's again if you haven't.

 

Delta said I could run two shims, but in looking at it, I think two shims might be a little too much for my liking.

Yep, what he said. Thanks Josh!!

I haven't had a chance to look into this yet, but I'm definitely leaning towards it being a lash clearance issue. Just have to find some time to pop the valve covers off, probably later this weekend I'll have an update. Thanks for the replys everyone.

if it sounds like an exhaust leak double check the EGR pipe connections, assuming it has one.

 

probably not relevant, but i would hate for you todo a lot of needless work.

I hadn't thought about that, but It's worth a check. It seems like the sound is just as loud on both sides of the engine though.

 

edit:

Rained all day today and I couldn't get any time under the hood, so no update.

Edited September 26, 201114 yr by Fairtax4me

Finally got to check the valve lash clearance yesterday. When wiggled by hand I felt NO play in the rockers. The smallest feeler gauge I had, .008", wouldn't squeeze between the lifters and valve stems.

Pressing on the end of the rockers with a pry bar, the springs begin to compress as soon as pressure is applied. I did not see any of the lifters "squish".

So it seems the issue is either between the cam and roller or it's something else entirely.

 

I ordered some aftermarket exhaust manifold gaskets (different design than Subaru gaskets), and will swap those when they come in a few days.