need some opinions on what to do next

[91spooler]

This might be a long story but id really appriciate it if you read and give some insight......Ok so I bought my car about 2 years ago and before that it was parked for about 4 or 5 years. I brought it home and it started up just fine but it obviously needed a tune up and other small things. So a week before I was about to change my timing belt, it busted and I bent my valves. So I sent my head to a machine shop and had them replace them and everthing. Apperently except for my rocker arms and lash adjusters cause one day I turned my car on and my engine was making this really loud tapping noise coming from under the valve cover. The noise came out of no where, that same morning I drove it to the gas station and it was working fine. I was gonna go to a meet and that's when it all started. I haven't had a mechanic look at it but that's what I'm thinking. I'm gonna have it checked out and when I have do ill see what I wanna do. This is where I need your help, should I pull the engine out and spend my time/money on upgraded internals and maybe a bigger intercooler or should I spend it on fixing that ugly knock and buy a dsmlink, gm maf, wideband, and tuning my car? I have the stock 14b and intercooler and a turboxs bc. @ around 14 psi. I don't have THAT big of a budget so I wanna do one that'll be worth it. I know my way around a car but id like to hear what some of you more experienced people have to say. Thanks!

 

[gs59_20]

Is the ticking constant or just at start up and warming up?

 

[reddragon1]

Sounds like the lifters are needing a good purge.

 

[91spooler]

Its a constant ticking. Sounds like a chain being pulled off something. And it stays there even after the cars been running for a bit. I don't wanna leave it on for too long

 

[Seouljer]

Lifter tick. Probably has stock lifters or if it has revised lifters they probably need purged like was said earlier. I'd just pull the lifters and check to see if they are stock or revised. If they are stock get some new revised lifters for about 100 bucks. If they are revised used a paperclip pushed through the top hole to depress the internal spring and pump put all the old oil. Then pump the lifters in new oil to refill with fresh oil. After they are full go ahead and pump the lifters again (out of the oil )to get out any excess oil and reinstall. Good luck.

 

[91spooler]

Thanks a lot. They are stock lifters and ill probably do that. But should I upgrade my internals or go the tuning route?

 

[92gvr488]

This might be a long story but id really appriciate it if you read and give some insight......Ok so I bought my car about 2 years ago and before that it was parked for about 4 or 5 years. I brought it home and it started up just fine but it obviously needed a tune up and other small things. So a week before I was about to change my timing belt, it busted and I bent my valves. So I sent my head to a machine shop and had them replace them and everthing. Apperently except for my rocker arms and lash adjusters cause one day I turned my car on and my engine was making this really loud tapping noise coming from under the valve cover. The noise came out of no where, that same morning I drove it to the gas station and it was working fine. I was gonna go to a meet and that's when it all started. I haven't had a mechanic look at it but that's what I'm thinking. I'm gonna have it checked out and when I have do ill see what I wanna do. This is where I need your help, should I pull the engine out and spend my time/money on upgraded internals and maybe a bigger intercooler or should I spend it on fixing that ugly knock and buy a dsmlink, gm maf, wideband, and tuning my car? I have the stock 14b and intercooler and a turboxs bc. @ around 14 psi. I don't have THAT big of a budget so I wanna do one that'll be worth it. I know my way around a car but id like to hear what some of you more experienced people have to say. Thanks!

I think fix the tapping and mod it tastfully...

 

[91spooler]

I'm gonna fix the tapping regardless. And I'm leaning more towards purchasing all the stuff for tuning.

 

[jared_gibbs]

All of my cars have been expensive just to maintain. They're old, sh!t breaks. A lot. If there's not a ton of miles on it and if you've still got good oil pressure I say leave the bottom end alone. Especially if you don't have much of a budget. Ignoring the engine entirely, the other lovely things that will eventually break or fail will include axles, brakes, fuel pump, alternator, TRANSMISSION!, clutch, various sensors, tires, suspension components, turbo, blah blah blah. Who cares how beefy the motor is if all the components to support it are crap?

I'm not trying to be a pessimest. I love my cars and all the hell they give me. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[91spooler]

Thanks.ha and I was getting fed up with my car giving me problems I was close to selling it but something about it makes me wanna keep it.

 

[Seouljer]

I would just fix the lifter tick issue and go with the tune. Only build the motor if you need it. If you do get a new set of revised lifters make sure to still purge out the oil they are shipped with, fill with fresh oil that you use in your car, and then pump out the excess oil before install. If the the lifters are too full they can break on start up because they won't compress.

 

[91spooler]

Dang. Ill make sure of that. Plus I don't plan on upgrading my turbo or adding boost for a while so a tune should keep me happy in the mean time.

 

[Seouljer]

Sounds good. And in the future when you are trying to make power check the compression on all the cylinders. If they are all good just make power on the stock bottom end. Stock 6 bolts can handle a lot of power. Easily over 400

 

[91spooler]

Nice. Good to know thanks a lot