5.3 Tick/Knock?

Well here’s a sending unit update lol.

The NAPA one was garbage, read like 15psi at warm idle.

So I actually managed to get the oil pressure test gauge behind the intake and test it, 45psi cold, 30psi warm.

So I returned the Napa one and ordered a GM Genuine off Amazon. Came in today, and got installed in 5 minutes(I’m becoming a certified pro at getting my hand back there at this point) and fired it up.

Now the thing reads 65psi cold, when it does only have 45psi. I’m going to say it’s good enough.

I’ve heard other people on here say the dash gauge for oil pressure is not accurate and it’s basically “Just a way to tell that you actually do have oil pressure”, so I’m going to choose to believe that.

Now pretty much, I’m going to throw some 10w40 in there instead of 5w30, thing it’s due for a step up in viscosity. Also ordered a snake oil, Liqui Moly lifter additive, in case this tick is a lifter and not exhaust. And lastly, I have plans to put shorty headers in place of the manifolds. Hopefully no other bolts will break getting it out, but I’m going to heat using a torch before I spin them out. The 2 that’s already broken thankfully are sticking out and are not lodged in the head. So I’ll use a stud removal tool or vice grips to get those out.

Been a while since I've updated about the Suburban's tick. Just kind of been living with it ticking, so no the engine did not have a catastrophic failure! Finally took the time today to rig up a way to see if the broken exhaust manifold bolts were causing the tick, and based on the results in this video, I'd say it is! Lol.

Time to put some Ebay chinese special shorty headers on it, hopefully I don't break anymore manifold bolts pulling them out! Probably going to use PB Blaster, hit them with heat and then impact them off, scared the twisting of a ratchet is going to snap them all off. The ones that are already broken are both sticking out of the head. A stud extractor should get at them.

question for y'all. The headers I bought have a primary port diameter of 1 5/8", but every MLS gasket I can find has a primary port diameter of 1 7/8", will those gaskets work with the headers I bought?

I did the adult dose of crankcase cleaner. My attempts with instructions on label were not successful until I did that.

First Berryman B12 spray cleaner. Removed both valve covers... Sprayed an entire can of berryman B12 down pushrods into lifters. Then poured an entire can on top of that over valvetrain. Let set overnight.

Next day I drained oil... Put new oil with entire can of crankcase cleaner... Ran engine for 1hr idle only. Changed oil again...

No more lifter tick. Was all gone after that.

As far as bolts I got ITC billet bolts for my exhaust but worth looking into ARP studs. The bolts commonly break.

I am not big on headers. Too much heat under hood. Been wanting to do LS1 manifolds which are cast headers but not sure how to fit them

Matthew Jeschke said:

I did the adult dose of crankcase cleaner. My attempts with instructions on label were not successful until I did that.

First Berryman B12 spray cleaner. Removed both valve covers... Sprayed an entire can of berryman B12 down pushrods into lifters. Then poured an entire can on top of that over valvetrain. Let set overnight.

Next day I drained oil... Put new oil with entire can of crankcase cleaner... Ran engine for 1hr idle only. Changed oil again...

No more lifter tick. Was all gone after that.

Click to expand...

Actually didn't end up being lifter tick in my case, it's just a severe exhaust leak from broken manifold bolts.

Going to be putting a pair of shorty headers in it that come with crappy paper gaskets, and id like to use an MLS gasket on them. The headers have a primary diameter of 1 5/8" and I cannot find MLS header gaskets with that diameter literally anywhere. Closest I can find is 1 7/8", which I'm not sure if that'll work or not.

I’ve done the right thing and cancelled the order on the cheap Chinese headers. Going to run stock manifolds, it’s a stock truck doesn’t need anything fancy.

Just going to get bolts and new gaskets and hope the manifolds aren’t warped at all.

You can get a set of manifolds and polish the runners. There's a machine shop by me who has machine I think can do that. Might be worth looking into. I didn't think to try it when I had mine off.

Matthew Jeschke said:

You can get a set of manifolds and polish the runners. There's a machine shop by me who has machine I think can do that. Might be worth looking into. I didn't think to try it when I had mine off.

Click to expand...

What do you think the chances are that they’re warped? I’m trying to do this as cheap as possible lol. I will order new manifolds if I have to though.no good machine shops near me