You would need to remove the cam to inspect it. I would pull the lifters first.

okay lol thats a big job lol sorry to sound like a newb but how do you pull the lifters ?

thanks

Once the LIM is off, you will see the lifter holders. Remove the 2 bolts and that'* it.

okay thanks, what are the specs for putting the lifters back on ?

thanks

As far as torque? I don't recall off hand, it'* not much, the holder is plastic and held in place with only 2 bolts.

thanks

well i pulled all the push rods on the back bank and there all good, ill move on to the front ones then to lifters tomorrow

how do you check the balence shaft ?

thanks

I've been sitting back and watching this one a bit.

Dan... listen to the vid again and close your eyes. Clear your mind of other ideas and just listen when he gives it a little rev. I have a thought...but it'* not a nice one.

OP, what does the oil pressure look like after the car if up to temperature and sitting at idle?
I can easily understand some general mechanics saying the things you heard from them. Although the 3800, when you know it as well as some of us do...it'* not known for any of those issues that they said. There are plenty of other motors that commonly have those items though.

That is a lot of gunk and neglect of oil changes inside that motor. My gut says something that I don't want to tell you yet. So let'* talk about lifters and pushrods. Were any of the rockers dry or drier than others when you pulled the parts off? I could understand a lifter gunking up and clogging or a pushrod for that matter. That could cause a misfire and the noise. Which cylinder is the misfire on?

the front bank they had oil sitting in the rockers, on the back i did notice something that looked like cyl.2 and 6 were dryer than cyl. 4 but all had oil sittinf on them and none of the pushrods are clogged. i have no way to test oil preasure but the light never came on, but i think it comes on if it gois beloe 5 psi.

the misfire was random mulitipule cylinder misfire

thanks