|
My suggestion is to isolate the source of the noise. Is it valve train (cam, valves, rockers, etc.) or reciprocating parts (crank, rods, pistons, etc.)?
As Tippy suggested, back off the valve adjustment on all rockers, then rotate the engine by hand and see if the noise persists. Listen and observe the moving parts.
Reassembling a basket case is risky if there isn't any history on what was done to it prior to your taking over the project. Did you inspect parts and measure the typical clearances during assembly? Were the heads rebuilt? Any parts machined that could modify factory specs? Did the short block (with and without heads) rotate smoothly w/o noise?
Conservatively, I would remove the top end and heads and inspect the pistons for any damage, insure the crank and attached parts rotate cleanly, then double check all parts before/during reassembly. Performing incremental checks increases confidence that no steps (or parts) were bypassed.
Best wishes.
|