Piper Cams - Sticking Valve lifter?

Muncher83

I've got a strange problem...

I have a rattling noise which is as follows:

from the throttle body/inlet side of the engine
worst when the engine is cold
doesn't do it after being driven for 30 mins or so
only happens as the throttle opens
more frequent when the throttle is wide open
intermittant in nature
sounds like a bolt rattling around in a drum perhaps
tone of noise is similar in nature to the noise when you try to start the engine with a flat battery
listening through a screwdriver everywhere doesn't really help

Only suggestions are a faulty throttle body (it's ported and pollished) or something to do with the piper cams, possibly a sticking valve lifter?

Here's a pretty poor video of it, the sound on the video seems louder and different in tone but you can tell the frequency of it on a slightly warmed up engine.

http://www.muncher.org.uk/MOV02429.3GP

I'll try and get a better video of it tomorrow.

Lightning_Coupe

Ive got a lazzy hydraulic lifter on mine that sounds similar to that. The 2.4l manifold dosent help as it seems to really amplify the noise...I've changed them once and the noise stoped, but the lifters I put in from autosprint wernt very good quality and they pumped up, holding the valves open and causing a Very lumpy idle. Put the old ones back in for now, Noisey, but runs well.

vocky

I had the same problem too, in the end a new set of hydraulic followers cured it :roll:

it's a noisy follower, if you can live with the noise then don't worry dunno..

blue_se2

I had a noisey cam follower on me calibra so tried some slick 50 and it cured the noise might be worth a try??

Muncher83

Will be trying some Forte treatment that a mate recommended 🙂

Muncher83

Here's a video of it...

I put in a treatment of Forte top end cleaner and took it for a drive, seems the same as normal really so I'm wondering how long it takes to work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNiyEi5YO4

vocky

exactly how mine sounded, a new set of followers made it quieter, but not quite as quiet as my vectra which has the original vx220 head :?

Muncher83

Hmm, the treatment is in there plus a little oil top up to be sure. Done a few miles on it and no difference so far.

How much are replacement followers Vocky? Did you replace with standard ones or are uprated ones available?

Lightning_Coupe

When I enquired early this year they where about £260 a set of 16 from vauxhall with trade discount. Autosprint did me them for £120 delivered for 16, but they where NFG and had to go back. Back running on the old ones now. I cleaned them out in an ultrasonic bath and flushed them with some clean oil best I could before refitting and there not too bad now, still not perfect but a lot better.

vocky

I got a set from autovaux, half the vauxhall price but not genuine parts :roll:

they were made in Germany and seemed identical to the originals dunno..

Muncher83

There's some suggestion it could be the piper cams which are causing the problem, I know vocky has piper cams but what about you Lightning?

vocky

piper remove some material from the bottom lobe, this makes the lifters work at a different height, thus they can stick.

a new set of lifters cured my z22se :roll:

Sjdickso

I believe Lightning's are also piper re-grinds.

edbutler

I have piper cams and a stg2 patriot head which needed 1mm frinding off the followers' base - the engine made a horrendous noise (followers and balancer shaft chain loose), but after the chain was fixed the followers just made that tapping noise, only constantly (every valve made a noise).

The noise disappeared above 3500rpm so its something to do with the oil pressure. The garage who fixed the chain added in Slick 50 (not on my request, but hes a mate so didnt complain!) and when warm gave the car a 30 minute ragging of its life. The noise stopped!!! Maybe an 'italian tuneup' really works!!

All i get now is a 1-2sec follower rattle on cold starts. Sometimes a 0.5sec rattle on warm starts also. Im happy with that 🙂