I have started to notice that my engine sounds quite tappety. I know they are quite a noisy engine but it seems to be catching my attention quite a bit.

What can make them noisy other than worn tappets?

EDIT: thought I should elaborate a bit, its mostly noticable with the windows up, between 3-4000 rpm.

 

worn cam
they arnt a quite engine anyway mine always sounds graunchy at top end and has been punished everytime ive used it

 

I was thinking about the cam, Because when I rebuilt the engine last year the cam wasn't in bad nick, so it didnt get replaced. Having said that Its probably around 150,000 miles old now. Providing it is the cars original.

 

I put a new cam and tappets in mine, sounds quite. For a cvh

 

150,000 miles out of a cvh cam, defo got your moneys worth there!

 

If it has done 150k then most likely that is it, but contrary to most people beliefs the top end should not be tappy due to natural wear because the lifters are hydraulic and so take up any slack as soon as oil pressure is up.
Low oil pressure will cause tapping, sticking lifter maybe or a heavily worn cam, also slight piston slap is often misdiagnosed as tapping lifters/cam.

 

whats the expected/ average lifespan of a cvh cam? mine also has done over 150k without ever having it changed..at most i have changed the tappets only (i know some people say its a big no no), when one stuck i think and was making a loud noise..also will it be causing any damage using one for so long even though the engine is really quiet?

 

Yeah its around the 3000rpm area. Top end its not too noisy. I should think it is probably cam wear as its getting on a bit now.

I shall probably get it changed when the car is off the road in the spring for its respray.

 

my old girl is still running original engine includeing turbo on 130k and i kick its arse as did the previous owner (my uncle) have only ever changed the lifters and water pump as far as mechanicals go.

 

I had a Cam in my MFi Orion go at around 150k, engine wouldnt rev above 4k but it was still silent lobes on cyl 4 both inlet and ex were literally gone, changed it and the lifters and it was good as new! Pulled really well after that!

 

I bet it did! :O lol
It's amazing how much wear the lifters will take up.

 

id say cam, or maybe even little ends?

tbh my engine seems quite quiet

 

could be a crank ring land.

 

Crank ring land, whats that? lol
Do you mean cracked ring land, in which case it would probably only be running on 3 IME?

 

A nice CVH engine with decent lifters should sound smooth and quiet.

One of my CVH's has solid lifters with roller rockers and sounds louder when compared to the others which have decent hydrolic lifters. (Not cheap ones in cam kits tho) But its a healthy sounding tapping from the solids if that makes sense, once they are locked up with the correct gap. The sound they make gives you confidence that the top end will be able to keep up with the high rpm.

I find with the solid lifters running an extra lubrication agent helps keep them stay quiet once you been thrashing out on track too.