L134 valve adjustment issue

[Lyle]

I’m having trouble trying to reduce the valve clacking from #2 cylinder. I found a Technical Bulletin normalizing the valve gap as 0.016”. I’ve been able to re-gap to the valves but no luck in reducing the noise.

Engine is timed and carb is tuned in and runs well.... just noisy.

Any ideas?

[wesk]

Have you taken a set of compression readings and vacuum readings?

Any chance you are mistaking fuel pump lever tapping, wrist pin slapping, for valve tapping?

You seem to have narrowed down the noise location to # 2. Perhaps it is a broken or loose part in the distributor?

[Lyle]

Good ideas, thx Wes.

I have 107 miles on a brand new engine (new: cam, cam gears, 24 vdc distributor, spark plugs, oil pump, pistons/rings, valves, guides and all bearings). New valve seat inserts. Complete rotating assembly (includes clutch pressure plate)
I’ve checked PVC valve to ensure it’s not the culprit.

I had a NOS cam re-ground to 1954 Isky spec.

I’ll redo pressure tests and vacuum checks (vacuum wiper are working)

[wesk]

The Vacuum check not only confirms suction for wipers it can also be used to interpret valve misbehavior and induction system leakage.

When I suggest using compression checks as a good source of troubleshooting information I often forget to include the other test. The leak down test.

Between these three tests one can usually decipher 905 of problems.