can anyone help diagnose this noise coming from the valvetrain?? video

[mmakam2]

So I pulled my valve covers off to see what the noise was. I checked with a feeler gauge with the cam lobe pointing up, and i literally cannot fit the smallest feeler in between the cam and lifter. I think it was a .0015in. I feel like im not checking lash properly. If anyone knows how to do this let me know.

Also how do i tell if i have solid or hydraulic lifters, i always thought if they were hydraulic there would be a lot of gap because the fluid is what keeps the lifters up.

The previous owner built the head, so i don't know what cams or lifters are in there. Is there any way to tell with jsut the valve covers off?

[mmakam2]

here is the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKbYbf10V_E

[mmakam2]

bump.... anyone????

[s13livin]

rb25 comes stock with hydraulic lifters and are known for ticks. unless previous owner swapped them to solid which I doubt. only way to really tell would be take them out. hydraulic have a line around the the middle, solid don't.

[s13livin]

if you have the funds and basic knowledge, I think tomei sells soild lifters which it seems everyone tries to go for. if not try throw some rislone in and see if it noise decreases

[mmakam2]

so the fact that i have virtually no clearance betweent he cam and the lifter isn't the problem?

[s13livin]

Yes it could be, has the car sat for a while before? As u stated they use oil to adjust clearance and could have air pockets in the lifter. Another thing u can try is remove the cams to get to every lifter, remove them and submerge them in oil, then squeeze the lifter up and down to see if any air bubbles come out.

[s13livin]

Do that until no more air bubbles are visible

[mmakam2]

it sat for about 3 weeksish, then it started making noise, so maybe your right.

Can any serious wear/damage happen from air being in the lifters?

Also, can air in the lifter keep it flush against the cam?

[mmakam2]

if there is air the lifter i would think the lifter would go down some if pressed on, which they didn't

also, the guy before me had an emanage with the rev limit at 8500, and he said he had the head built. so its possible there are solid lifters in there.