Valve train noise

Oldmanmopar said

while its apart see if you can wobble any of the lifters in their bores. A couple bad holes will make more of them noisey on that side due to pressure loss. Just something you could then rule out while its apart.

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Although the engine is still all in tact, I managed to try and wobble the lifters through the inspection holes that the head has. I was looking through the holes and using each pushrod to prod the lifter to see if they move side to side. To the best of my ability they did not wobble. It was difficult to do while holding a torch at the same time using the push rod to check for movement.
Anyway I reassembled everything and adjusted side play to 0.012" on all rockers. I used 3/4 turn for the preload on all rockers. All turned out very good. The engine sounds slightly quiter on the side of my (so called) problem. I reckon taking up the side play may have helped. But the valve noise just seems a little louder on that side. Very little I might add. It just sounds like its running a mechanical setup. Doesn't sound like a distinct single lifter ticking/tapping. If you stand back in front of the engine you don't notice it. Only when you lean over each fender in turn and compare one bank with the other. I could not find anything wrong except the excessive side play. Everything looked o.k. The engine feels strong and runs silk smooth like always. Before I put this to bed my last question will be if 3/4 turn preload is too much and if not would it be advisable to apply a little more preload and how much more.
End of story.
Regards
Billy D...
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