Thumping noise coming from intake

Dirtymaxx73

New member
Aug 7, 2023
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Michigan
Hoping someone can help.. I’ve got a thumping noise coming from my air box that started randomly the other morning. it’s a 01 Silverado 3500 lb7. Did a compression test already and all cylinders were between 310 and 325 3 cranks cold.. it does it warm and cold. Does get faster when rpm’s increase but can’t really hear it after about 25mph. No loss of power that I can tell. No white smoke. No blow by. Took the filter off and still does it. Thought it was something to do with the turbo or piping so I swapped the turbo out with another one I had and checked all the piping for the turbo with no success. Oh and balance rates are all good. No codes either.
Source: https://youtube.com/shorts/deiuW7LE5QA?feature=share

Source: https://youtube.com/shorts/obTKNm50P3w?feature=share
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Delta.Speed

Member
Mar 26, 2022
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That first thred posted above is me. One of my trucks, a 2002 LB7, makes that same exact thumping sound from the intake, except mine isn't quite as loud.

But definitely the same sound frequency and tone.

My truck has new heads with screw in cups, pushrods, double springs, billet injector hold downs, 45% SAC injectors from Lincoln Diesel, and a few other goodies and still makes the sound.

No symptoms other than the sound. Balance rates all checking out okay.

After that thread, I chalked it up to engine resonance like some others said cause I had other stuff to worry about with the truck.

I recently acquired a 2004 LB7 that I'm dying to take the intake lid off of to see if it makes the same sound.

Now that someone else has brought it up I'm interested to see what kind of responses you get. It'd be nice to know if it's really normal or if there may be something that needs attention.

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Dirtymaxx73

New member
Aug 7, 2023
14
4
3
Michigan
I definitely don’t think it’s normal my last motor never sounded like that and this motor didn’t sound like it does now until randomly it did a week or two ago. Don’t think sounds like that appear for no reason and are normal. Gonna take the valve covers off I think and see if I can find out anything.
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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I definitely don’t think it’s normal my last motor never sounded like that and this motor didn’t sound like it does now until randomly it did a week or two ago. Don’t think sounds like that appear for no reason and are normal. Gonna take the valve covers off I think and see if I can find out anything.
Check the torque on the hold downs when your in there. If you find any that are loose it might be a bent hold down or stretched bolt
 

Delta.Speed

Member
Mar 26, 2022
123
21
18
Sounds like a cross leak from exhaust to intake to me. Every time I've torn down an engine with that going on, it's had either bent pushrods, or bent valve, or leaking seat, or broken rocker/bridge, or all of the above.
Any recommendations on what could cause that other than the ones you've listed.

I dont mean to hijack the thread, but I was where he is over a year ago. I tore into the motor all the way down to the head gaskets hoping to find something on my way there.

The only thing I found was a failed crush washer and a lifted cup.

No damaged mechanical parts.

And even after going back with chromoly pushrods, new heads, springs, and more. Mine still does it.

No lack of compression either as you'd expect from an exhaust to intake leak.

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JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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Was the little wear pad still in place on top of the bridge?
 

Delta.Speed

Member
Mar 26, 2022
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Great thread and sweet find!! I'm gonna tear back into mine and recheck all of the rockers and bridges. Those were the only parts I reused in my top end. My pushrods are all new so I must have something similar going on.

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Dirtymaxx73

New member
Aug 7, 2023
14
4
3
Michigan
So my truck started making the same noise again.. took off the driver side valve cover to find that cylinder 6 exhaust valve rocker is missing the piece on the bottom that contacts the bridge.. anyone have any idea on why now two of these pieces have fell off?
 
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