Haven't heard back from Aaron yet to see if he pulled the valve cover to check for that tapping noise. When I was out at his shop last time, I used the camcorder for the audio capabilities to capture that tapping noise. The camcorder does a much better job of "hearing" that sort of thing than my own naked ears can.
Addendum: I just got off the phone with Aaron and he found the problem. The exhaust rocker arms were tapping against the valve cover ever so slightly. Not enough to make even much of a mark, as at first glance, Aaron didn't even see the mark. But at closer inspection he noted the tiny marks being made. So simply by removing a slight bit of metal from the valve cover fixed that problem. He will check out the passenger side as well, as more than likely the same problem will exist on that side as well. Man, I'm glad it was nothing more serious.
That's great news Rich. It's about time you had some on this build. I didn't find any of my parts out at the shop today. Spent some time when I got home to order a new mass Air Flow Sensor,knock sensors,o2 sensors,harmonic balancer bolt. $$$$$$$$ are flying by my eyes.
I just got off the phone with Aaron and he found the problem. The exhaust rocker arms were tapping against the valve cover ever so slightly.
Great news! Hope you get nothing but that now that it's at the new shop. I just think your car was pissed being at the other shop. She'll be happy now and fully cooperate to get back on the road in one fantastic, asphalt ripping, piece. That car probably actually protected you from even worse grief later down the road.
Aaron is planning on taking my car out on the road to do some driveability testing and tuning on it today. Then if all goes well, it will be put on the dyno tomorrow. He says there is a light at the end of the tunnel now.
Things didn't go as planned for Aaron. He said he went to take it for a test drive but didn't even get out of his driveway. First the steering pump was whining like crazy. Evidently Chris never put any fluid in it. Then he said that there were strange clunks like some of the suspension was loose. I know that at least the rear sway bars never got tightened down. Was like that for a good month or so before the car got yanked out of there. And certainly the wheels were not aligned as Chris had stated to me. Aaron also said that the front sway bars were somehow getting in the way of the steering arms, and wasn't sure what was up with that. Had to reroute a brake line that was physically rubbing on a half shaft. Stuff like that.....
So yeah, I've been expecting that Aaron will find quite a bit of stuff that just never got done as was claimed, or else was done in a less than professional manner.
He wants to get the car flatbedded to an alignment shop so he can put it on the road, so that isn't going to happen till early next week.
I'd REALLY like to know what Chris was actually doing with all the time he said he was putting the work into my car and saying my car would be done "next week".