Engine making ticking nosie.

[Hydrocarbon]

OK here's the deal. Ever since I first got my car drivable there has been a ticking noise coming from the right/rear side of the engine. The noise is present whenever the engine is running but is louder when under load. Also the noise increases in frequency with engine RPM.

I've checked the usual suspects like the rockers and exhaust. I re-torqued all the rockers to 25ftlbs. I Checked the header gaskets and they (fel-pro) look fine, all bolts are tight.

Please help me before I slap some Boss 302 stickers on this thing.

 

[SLiM JiM 156]

It sounds like an exhaust leak to me, did you check where it connects to the collector? Best way to pinpoint it is to get a short piece of hose and put on to your ear and use the other to explore where the tic is the loudest, thats how i always find where noises are coming from.

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Thanks for the reply Slim. I used a "piece of hose / long screwdriver" and I've localized the sound to #4 cylinder.

So if it is the exhaust which gasket do you guys suggest? I've heard Earl (Holley) makes the best. I guess if I must pay $40.00 to stop this leak I'll do it, because it sounds like a Toyota pickup.

 

[banditmwp]

well, if you have found the problem, the method I was going to suggest is useless, but as far as gaskets go, I have actually had the best luck with a plain 'ol Fel-pro exhaust manifold set I know it sounds crazy, but the Mr. Gasket copper seals leaked and the fel-pro's have held up for over a year

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Well I'm not exactly sure if I've found the problem. I can hear a clicking sound coming from the left side of the engine now. I double checked the rockers and they are all super tight. What else can I check?

 

[battyice]

I know you say you have retorqued your rocker arms, but have you actually verified that your valve lash is reasonable? Depending on what kind of rocker arm mounting system you have installed, simply retorquing them may or may not fix your problem. You may have a collapsed lifter; spin your engine over until each lifter is on the cam basecircle (one cylinder at a time obviously) and try and spin the pushrod by hand. If you find one that spins easily, you can bet there is something amiss.

 

[Hydrocarbon]

I verified that each rocker has zero lash. I'm using the stock rockers.

PS tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

 

[DMAN302]

Bad lifter, or ticking injector..get a code scanner and run a cylinder test.

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Did that and got a code 90 (pass).

 

[Hydrocarbon]

OK it seems to be coming from the back of the block. I can hear it better under the car, but it may just be resonating through the headers.

I hooked a timing light up and the noise is the same frequency as the light flash, so its not crankshaft related.

I'm going to try some of that engine oil cleaner stuff, just to see if the noise changes any

 

[88LX]

i have searched for an answer to this question too. i have a tic coming from the left side of my baby and it is louder under the car. can this be common? my 88 did it and my 89 does it.

 

[DMAN302]

Maybe it's just the echo of throwout bearing try getting someone to depress the cluch while you poke about.

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Is the throwout bearing in the torque converter or the valve body?

PS Not trying to be an a$$, just making a joke.

 

[timewarped1972]

as silly as it sounds, did you make sure all the spark plugs are in tight and the wires are clipped on the end of the plugs good?? automatics can sometimes get a tick with a cracked flex plate too.

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Its a possibility, I'll check the plugs after sun up.

I thought it might be the flexplate or the converter to flexplate nuts coming loose. But wouldn't that cause the tick to happen at twice the speed of my timing light flash?

 

[DMAN302]

Ups...yes i see now how throwout bearing may not be as likely...hhmmm..dougnuts..

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Anyone think this might be the problem?

 

[SLiM JiM 156]

looks like an exhaust leak to me, the carbon is going to the outside right>?

 

[Hydrocarbon]

Yup it's down to the last of the steel core of the gasket.

I'm going to pick some new gaskets up tomorrow, which brand should I get?

I'm using Fel-pros right now and I want to use something better. I don't like the thin part on the outside.