Hey guys, thought I would throw this up and see if anyone has any ideas.

03 Evo, 13k since stock rebuild
Hks 272 cams

Timing belt tensioner was starting to make some noise, so I parked the car for about a week, replaced belt tensioner and pulleys, everything at TDC.

Got the car started, ran fine. Let it idle for around 15 mins, then took it out on a test drive. Car boosted funny, figured it was a boost leak as I had all the piping off earlier that day.

After hitting boost, whole top end of the motor started clacking like nobodys business, crazy loud. I have verified that timing is still spot on, and that the noise is coming from the head only. Could this be lifters even though it ran without issue up until now?

I will try and post a video later, but this isnt lifter "tick", it sounds like my valvetrain has no oil. I will pull the cover after work to see if I find anything.

Has anyone ran into something like this?

 

Are you sure it didn't bend a valve when the tensioner was loose? I would check your compression. Not sure what you replaced when you did the cams did you take out any other parts in the head? I would definatly not drive it.

 

Almost 100%. Car got parked as soon as I saw the play in the belt. It was still at TDC and the tensioner was not completly dead, just mis adjusted really. Should have stated that. No other parts except belt related were even touched.

No noise except a valve tick when cold. Also as stated, no noise for almost 20 mins of idle/ driving until I hit boost, so I don't see how it could have bent a valve before hand. However I am not ruling it out.

Compression test coming tonight as well.

 

I would start there.. Only thing that jumbs out is the noise got worse under boost. Normal lifter tick would usually just be at idle. You could pop off the vavle cover and make sure you didn't break a retainer or something. did you upgrade the springs and retainers? Worth a look as well.

 

Stock head minus cams, cams were installed before I bought the car, I did rebuild the engine 13k ago and lifters were bled.

Noise didn't get worse under boost, it started after. There was no noise after new T belt until after I hit boost. No valve tick, no nothing. Quiet as can be. There was a valve tick before t belt change, but it went away when warmed up. That valve tick was not present after the belt change either.

So to sum up.

Car sat week, took timing belt off.
Waited 2 days for parts. Installed new belt, tensioner and all pulleys.
Triple checked TDC.
Fired right up, idled great DEAD quiet (Minus obvious exhaust etc.)
Let it idle for 15-20 mins, took out for a drive.
Just peachy for 2 ish miles, only hit maybe 5 pounds during this time.
Decided to get on it, car hesistated for a quick second around 15 pounds attributed this to a boost leak.
Pulled to full 28 pounds., then let off around 6k.
Coasted to stop sign, then heard noise.

And that's it up till now.

 

I do appricate the help, and the retainer idea did come to mind.

Obviously I have some diagnosing to do, but I'm stuck at work trying to bounce ideas.

 

Hope you figure it out. That is just my thought as to what i could be. Some of these types of noises can be a royal pain to figure out..

 

Well, pulled the VC. Everything looked fine, went ahead and bled the lifters. Then noticed 3 chunks missing out of the middle of my new timing belt!

Guess I'll be pulling and checking that tomorrow. Noise was definitely in the head. I'm thinking I either have 2 different problems or the belt caused the head issue.

 

Least you are a bit closer. Having done the timing in my car and not doing the tensioner correctly. Learned an expensive lesson that day. Bent 3 valves.

Might want to error on the side of caution and pull the head and make sure everything is seated and nothing is bent. Probably over kill but can't hurt to be sure n

 

I'll probably pull it after I find out what the belt issue is. Did a compression test.

170-180-185-185

Cylinder 1 seems a little off. But that by itself is a good number.

 

Well, to add a solution to this.

Pulled the head, all 8 intake valves kissed the pistons. As far as I can tell, something fell between the crank sprocket and belt, causing it to jump. Upon closer inspection this had caused the tensioner pulley to losen and made the marks line up TDC. After tensioning the belt back up, it was off 3 crank teeth.

Something plastic was shreaded at the bottom of the cover, not sure what it was but it didn't belong in that area, must have fallen in before I put the top cover on.

Life goes on.

 

Yikes!! Guess least you have a clear picture now.. Sucks man glad you got it sorted at least...