TopEnd Noise, *not valve adj.*

[r-exrider0003]

recently put on a different head(ported) on my 426. now its making alot of topend knocking/klinking noises. sounds kinda like an exhaust leak would, but its not exhaust. i thought it might be in need of a valve adjustment, it was, but it proceded to continue being noisey afterwords. any ideas?

[416exfreak]

Does it have the stock valvetrain, or aftermarket rockers, valves, etc?

And does it have the stock cam?

You might have adjusted them to the wrong adjustment.

Check and be sure your lash and the other word I forgot are correct.

[r-exrider0003]

ah yeah my bad, probably should have said more about it. stock rockers, valves, and pretty well only thing isnt stock is the cam. its a hotcam stage II, i know hot cams are known to be noisy but how noisy? sorry this question is a bit vague, as it could be about anything, just looking for some ideas. prolly pull the whole rocker arm assembly off this weekend any how

[lorenjr83]

My stage 2 hotcam was noisy at during break in, but after that and a valve adjustment its nice and quite

[the Z Man]

Are you sure its not the head gasket? you may have stretched your studs a little.

[r-exrider0003]

head gasket? ahhhh. how would i know? is it still goin to be rideable, or is another tear down inorder?

[the Z Man]

When the headbolts stretch the head gasket has a tendancy to leak, sounds like an exhaust leak, its still ridable but you can probly damage the head after awhile, pull the valve cover and recheck your torques on the head, mine was a front one..

[r-exrider0003]

ahhh well id have to take all the top end off to replace it wouldnt i? or could i just do it from underneath the rocker cover? you lose alot of power with it? any more signs?

[krt400ex]

could be pinging...the cam would add to the noise also.

wut kind of fuel you running?

[r-exrider0003]

eh the noise isnt pinging. im running a bit lower octane, but its a bit noiser than it should be for that.
ive been looking and found like 3 diff valve adjustment specs for HotCam St. 2, what do you guys use? i did have it adjusted to stock ( forgot about the difference), would that had made it very loud and noisey? any other details on blown head gasket, ive gota stripped out bolt on the topend, woudl that cause any of this?