Car idles great, runs smooth. Haven't driven it yet. The only seeable problem is that the valvetrain is excessively noisy. Just take normal SR20 idling valve noise and amplify it about 5 times and that's what we got. We did take a look under the valve cover earlier. The top end looks to be in VERY good shape. The only two ideas I have are:

1. Timing chain tensioner isnt' popped out. blackb13 just put it back in the motor this week so that's a possibility. Also along those lines, the tensioner could be off the chain guide.

2. Something is up with the hydaulic valve lash adjusters (HVLAs). I don't know too much about what kinds of problems there can be with these. How could they be problematic and how could you check them? Could issues with them cause excessive valvetrain noise?

TIA

usually the the hydraulic lifters only lose oil if they are removed or sit in an engine with no oil that havs been tilted and turned a lot. i would say check the chain. did you just swap or upgrade the cams there is no reason the tensioner would latch itself back. is enough oil getting through the squirters on the cams if one or more is clogged it will cause a problem.

No cam swap. The oiling tubes were checked and cleaned before the motor was put in. Mike Jez said "but its my JDM rattled like that too for 1st time I ran it...it was the lifters I thought it was a rod knock at 1st. if it sits for a long assssss time it will do this." Sooo... should I just take it for a spin and see if it goes away? Or pull the VC first?

Check the HVLAs. Once they loose oil, or develop an air bubble, they don't bleed themselves. You have to take them out, put them in a cup of clean oil, and use a small pin, or drill bit, and push the ball inside them down. When you do this, you will see an air bubble escape. Also double check the chain tensioner to make sure the hook disenganged.

Well, started it up this morning and now it's just fine. Did the rattling (startup clatter noise) for a second or two and then went away like startup clatter COMPLETELY. Car is fast and mean. :) Guess they fixed themselves somehow.

Ben:
What did you through a det into? I thought you were getting out of the turbo madness..

Mike

It was blackb13's Classic. I helped he and Ben put it in, and Ben is right. It runs and sounds MEAN. No leaks anywhere, exhaust or fluids. The whole valvetrain noise thing is a mystery, but perhaps it is related simply to the engine sitting around for so long. I can't wait to see his car when he front-mounts the IC and installs his boost controller!

so no front mount or anything? just osme HD piping or did you get some custom pipe?

Mike Gosselin? Talk about an old-school enthusiast turned lurker! :) Sup fool?

Yea it was not my car. The Metro will be my fast car. DET fast or faster without a DET. :)

It did go successfully. Just was those durned HVLAs. I'm VERY happy we didn't have to pull the cams and mess with them. SO VERY HAPPY :)