Noisy top end on rebuilt engine

[zwsmith81]

I just recently finished my 4.0 OHV build and I’ve got a really noisy top end. It’s in a 1997 Ranger 4x4 with manual transmission. Here’s what I got in it.
99 factory non EGR engine (built it while driving the truck)
Bored .30 with new pistons
Fresh ground crank with bearings
New timing chain set
New oil pump
New aftermarket heads w/valves
410 comp cam/and recommended valve springs
Smith bros 5.550 push rods
New lifters
New rocker arms
New factory flow injectors
All new sensors up to plenum
Everything was torqued to factory spec


It started right up no issues there. Good oil pressure. No smoke. But it’s got a really noisy tapping/ticking sound. Possibly a little noisier on the drivers side. Anyone have any idea what might be causing this and how to fix it? Stuck lifter possibly?
Thanks, Zack

 

[SenorNoob]

How long has it run since the work? I didn't do that much with mine, just gaskets, pushrods and rocker arms. It sounded awful for the first 15 minutes or so... I really thought I'd screwed something up bad. Started driving it home like that, (I had it in work, had to move it before we started up.) about halfway home (4 miles in) it got quiet

 

[zwsmith81]

I put 100 miles on it and it's no better. Now I think I've got other issues. Doing a compression test tonight when I get home from work.

 

[zwsmith81]

So yesterday the engine started running rough, missing, smoking, starting hard. I thought oh great, the rings aren’t sealing properly. So I did a compression check tonight an all 6 cylinders were nearly all at 190 psi. So no compression issue. I pulled the intake and valve covers off. My intake upper plenum was full of gas up into the vacuum lines!!! The rockers/valves/pushrods all looked good from what I can see. What would cause the top end to fill up with fuel?? No wonder it runs like crap!! Any ideas?? Think I could have a bad or sticking lifter?

 

[zwsmith81]

I did replace the little fuel regulator on the fuel rail that has a vacuum line hooked too it. What if it’s got a bad diaphragm in it and it’s letting fuel run straight into the vacuum line??

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Its possible. Pull the vacuum line and smell it.

 

[SenorNoob]

At that point it almost has to be the regulator. Well, I suppose a stuck open injector could do it. It has be leaking fuel under pressure at a pretty serious rate to do that. Kinda surprised the engine didn't hydrolock.

 

[zwsmith81]

Its possible. Pull the vacuum line and smell it.

Tomorrow evening I’m gonna unhook the vacuum line and see if fuel squirts out of it! I’ll keep you posted. Having fuel filling up the vacuum system could definitely cause some running issues and that would explain why it’s hard to start sometimes, smoking, and miss firing!

 

[zwsmith81]

Some good news. I pulled the vacuum line off the regulator and turned on the ignition switch. Gas shot out of the regulator vacuum port like a rocket. Solved that problem. Changed the regulator and it runs and purrs like a kitten now! Still have a little noisy top end but not as severe as it was before.

 

[zwsmith81]

Pulled the heads and found 3 sticking lifters(in the bores). Faulty lifters from eBay. This explains my valvetrain problem.