Helloooooo Honda-tech. I'm a long time reader, first time poster, and I need some help.

What is this noise? I have just done a Mini Me swap with a d15b7 block and a d16z6 head. I know the bottom end is fine, because It was running fine before, the head is what I'm worried about. It sounds like it is coming from the very top of the head around cylinder 1. I have also adjusted the rocker arm valve clearance. Could It be the tappet, or the rocker arms or something? If you have any helpful advice, please comment. Thanks. and I don't need to know why this swap sucks - this is just a little project for me.

http://youtu.be/qHrCv0oPd8s

Thank you for watching!

 

Do you have any background info on the head?

 

it almost sounds like the piston is hitting the head to me, ive had it happen before on a b20vtec i did but i couldnt be 100%, doesnt sound like a valve noise to me its a little to harsh!!

 

I have no idea what the history was with the head, but it looks okay. I didn't know the cylinder could hit the head and keep running? when I had the head off, I changed the piston rings too, cause it was burning a little oil. When I replaced the pistons, they never exceeded the edge of the cylinder wall.

 

Have you double checked the valve timing? Was this apparent immediately following reassembly and have you driven it? It's got oil in it, right

 

Take your valve cover back off and check the adjustment nuts on the rockers. I had this happen to my old turbo ls. One of them backed off twice. Turned out the nut was starting to strip out. I took a nut off an old junk motor and everything was fine after that. Not saying it's going to be YOUR problem but that's exactly the sound I had.

 

lma's good?

 

You need to put oil in it?

I will double check all of the rocker arm adjuster bolts. I did adjust all of them after the first start-up. The fist start had more numerous tap noises, but they were quiet. Then I adjusted it. And now this single LOUD tap. A couple of the LMA's were pretty stiff. I have never changed LMA's before, I will look into that. Could stiff LMA's Make that much noise? Or would they just cause the rocker arm adjuster nuts to get out of alignment?

Thanks for all of your help! Will get back with updates!

By the way, I was kidding about the oil.

 

did you remove the oil jet off the center of the block?
Sounds like something in the head forsure.

Do a compression test

 

I now know what the noise is. I just want get this out of the way: THIS IS EMBARRASSING AND I AM STUPID!!! Let me just sum it up for everyone... Don't forget to torque down your piston rod nuts! Turns out I just hand tightened them and one of them got a little loose. If your car sounds like this and is loud as a banshee - TURN IT OFF - Your piston is punching your head.

Thanks for all of your help. Be gentle.

 

hold on, you forgot to torque down the connecting rod? yikes. didn't realize you took apart the bottom end also.