Thread: Noisey top end?

Is this unusual for the ve head? This is my first...everything seems to be runnig great, it's a sr16ve+t (gtir t28) head and sr20de block, bored to 87mm mm with 9:1 pistons & eagle rods. I have about 250 miles on it so far, oh yeh it has had a valve job and rocker to cam specs were supposed to be set at time of valve job.

A lot of SR20s have loud, noisey, clippity, clappety valvetrains.

Since the engine is relatively new, I doubt it is that unless something was installed incorrectly.

Did you inspect the timing chain tensioner? This can cause noise in there as well. I have seen ones that keep a chain super loose with tons of play and ones that were cracked and made the chain so tight, you could not move it between the cam gears at all with hitting it with a rubber mallet. Weird stuff.

All sr20's are notorious for noisy valvetrain. I'm in KC this week, how close are you?

My newly built engine is quite clicky through certain rev ranges. I was worried about it so pulled off the valve cover to re-check the clearances but they were still at what I set them. I've installed a 3" straight through exhaust now and the problem is all gone so I would personally recommend that.

It has a brand new everything on the timing area, new N1 tensioner, new crank gear, CS adjustable cam gears, chain, and both new guides.


I'm in Lawrence, about 30 mins from KC, KS . Where are you in KC? Send me a PM with your cell number and I'll recipricate.



Mine is clickety clackity at idle even...3" VRS turbo back

Well since you have brand new everything in there, I would not worry about it! Sounds like you did a nice job with the setup.

Drive it, beat the hell out of it, and drive it some more. Change the oil every 3k miles and beat it some more!!!

Just open it up and see what you have for lash. If its super loud id expect it to be looser then usual. The ex side are set fairly loose, so when there cold before the valves expand the ex side it noisy. But once its all wamed up it should quiet down a little...

Idk what you guys are talking about exhaust making the valve noise go down???? My guess is that your 3in is so much louder you can't hear the top end over ur exhaust..

Yeah pretty much can't hear anything over the exhaust. Mine definately isn't noisy at idle, In fact its amazingly quiet espeially when warm, the injectors are easily 5-10 times louder than the valvetrain. I would agree, check the valve clearances if you aren't totally sure they're in spec.

Yeh, I'll check the clearances. Hope for the best!!