I’ve been chasing a low rpm valve train tick. It starts out at about 1000rpm then seems to go away upwards of 2000 or so. I’ve replaced the lifters, rockers and checked the push rods for straightness. Today I started pulling valve springs and I guess I should have started here. Several of the valve seals are missing and one umbrella seal is gone. This makes me think that these springs have been off and on a lot before. Anyway the question is with the valve locks. I’ve found one that with the spring removed if I hold the locks around the stem I can move the locks up and down a little. There appears to be some wear on the valve stem grove where to locks go. Could this be the source of the tick? Based on the type of metal, which would wear first the lock or the stem? Would it be worth a try to replace the locks?

the valve stem would be the worn part most likely. the locks are hardened.

i doubt it's the source of the tick, but who knows?

time to take off the heads and have all the springs checked, or just replaced, as well as replacing worn/bent valves and valve guides.

i s'pose you could just do what you can without taking off the heads, but it sounds like you really should replace at least one valve, and have the rest checked.
how bad do you want it to be right, and how right do you want it? ;) (rhetorical)

The more I've thought about it the more I think you're probably right. graemlins/sad.gif
But on the bright side maybe the time has come for those Trick Flows I've been looking at. smile.gif

Thanks for the advice.