I have a tapping sound coming from the top end in the valvetrain, it is what sounds like a bad lifter or loose rocker arm. The valvetrain is all original nothing in it was replaced when i rebuilt the engine that had 116,000 miles on it except for the 1.9 modded rockers i put in, the cam looked fine when it all went together and the car ran great and was quiet, now that i got about 5,000 miles on it, its making this noise. first thing i did is put a new set of lifters in and it was still there just like before. then i checked over the valve springs for cracks and couldnt find any, but i found one i could just spin around with my hand, so i figured it was weak and put comp 105 springs in along with the right retainers and locks and also new comp push rods. this is where things get strange, it was completely quiet again, i drove it about 15 miles to work sounded good, and on the way home it started again and is now just as loud as it was, and whats weird about it is sometimes as i drive it it goes away for a few miles then comes back, and when its tapping it reads it as knock and pulls about 14 degrees timing out, im lost and have no idea what it could be other than maybe a cam lobe worn even though rollers on original lifters were fine? or i got a new lifter thats defective but i doubt it because the sound is in the same spot. Used a friends scope and put it down near the middle of the v on the drivers side and thats where you can really hear something like the lifter just slapping on the cam. Oil pressure is 70 pounds at 1800 and compression is good and even on all cylinders, and i did change the oil and it doesnt appear to have anything in it. If anyone has any ideas for me or have ever heard of a cam in these being bad, anything would be appreciated.
