• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Help Engine Tick.

  • Thread starter Thread starter jahernandez
  • Start date Start date Mar 27, 2013

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 27, 2013
#1
  • Mar 27, 2013
  • #1
Getting this ticking noise coming from the engine bay.
I'm not sure what it is maybe one of you do.
The car drives perfectly fine. You can hear it really good between 4-15 seconds.

 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,093
21,276
234
Box behind Walmart
Mar 27, 2013
#2
  • Mar 27, 2013
  • #2
Does it change at all when you push in the clutch?
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 27, 2013
#3
  • Mar 27, 2013
  • #3
No difference when the clutch is in or out plus I just had a new clutch assembly put in 800 miles ago so
I doubt it's a TOB or Pilot.
The ticking gets faster as it is revved up but you can't hear it past 2k rpms due to my exhaust.
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Mar 27, 2013
#4
  • Mar 27, 2013
  • #4
What led to this?

Did you start it up cold one day and suddenly it was ticking?

Or did this follow some spirited driving? High revs? Burn-out?
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
204
South Jersey
Mar 28, 2013
#5
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #5
What kind of mileage is on the motor? I've seen a few high mileage 4.6 motors wear out the lash adjuster pockets In the heads which caused a really similar ticking noise. We wound up putting precision ground steel washers under the lash adjusters to tighten them up and it has been fine for almost 2 years now. Just a thought
 

Jhussey1280

Member
Jan 31, 2012
185
4
19
New Pal, Indiana
Mar 28, 2013
#6
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #6
It almost has that exhaust gasket leak sputter to me. Just a thought.
 
R

rockyracoon

10 Year Member
Nov 23, 2005
874
27
49
margate NJ
Mar 28, 2013
#7
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #7
Broken timing chain guides ? try listening with a stethoscope on the timing cover to see if you can pinpoint the noise.
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#8
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #8
It could have been ran hard I'm not quite sure, I left the car with my dad and once I got back from south padre on Tuesday it was doing this. The car had 82,000 miles on it so its not that high. The car does have a exhaust smell to it. The sound sounds like it is coming from either under the passenger side valve cover or under the engine. I'll get out there right now and try to pinpoint it.
 
R

rockyracoon

10 Year Member
Nov 23, 2005
874
27
49
margate NJ
Mar 28, 2013
#9
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #9
If it does seem like it is coming from behind the timing cover, please dont run the car much until you get it checked out as the plastic from a broken guide can clog up the oil pickup tube and starve the top end of oil. It happened to mine and galled some of the cam bores in the heads as well as the cam journals, plus the chain wore through the oil pump from rubbing against it. Luckily the block and crank were ok still.
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#10
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #10
I got out there and the sputter or tick (sounds mostly like a sputter) seems to be coming from under the car in the area of my passenger header (loudest here) OR seems to be coming from somewhere in cylinder 4/under the valve cover. If anyone of those part were broken or not functioning properly wouldn't I be able to tell with driving the car? The car drives perfectly fine. Once I get paid I'll take it in to check for exhaust leaks then I'll check behind the timing cover then heads. I'll start with the cheapest first. Thanks guys.

Anymore suggestions on what I should check out when I get in there?
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Mar 28, 2013
#11
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #11
Check the spark plugs. Make sure they're all tight.
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#12
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #12
I spoke to my Dad about it today and he did say it was the lash adjusters due to running the engine on low oil (I have an oil leak). Has anyone ever replaced these things and what all does it take?
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#13
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #13
Actually I'll just leave the car as is now and I've decided I'm going to build a whole new engine for this car from the ground up. Since I don't want to be rebuilding the inside of a engine with 82,000 miles on it. I have no idea how hard it was ran before I purchased the car. I'm going to switch it over to 4v instead of 2v and I'm wanting forged internals. Any suggestions on blocks? I'm learning towards a Longblock so I'll have less internal work I plan on taking this car and sitting around 400-450 hp and have it as a Daily.
 
R

rockyracoon

10 Year Member
Nov 23, 2005
874
27
49
margate NJ
Mar 28, 2013
#14
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #14
Huh ? If you get a longblock youll have no internal work. why not build up that motor ? what does 89 K have to do with it ?
 

trombonedemon

Well-Known Member
Jun 25, 2009
1,962
39
59
U.S.A, U.S.A., U.S.A.!
Mar 28, 2013
#15
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #15
Check the sparkplugs, you can feel the coil on plugs for bounce. No reason for rebuild if not needed.
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#16
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #16
Spark plugs have no bounce checked them so I'm ruling that out.
89k miles has a huge deal with it. To get around the HP that I want I'll need to get forged internals in my car right now and this engine has high miles. It would be a much better investment to build one up with forged internals and swap to 4v heads. ID rather have everything brand new. I dont plan on selling this car but rather keeping it and putting it away layer in life.

This link right here I think would be appropriate to start with or do one of you all have experience with this and can point me in the right direction? http://www.modmaxracing.com/product_p/99525250.htm

The car drives fine but I'm leaning towards that it is one of the lifters so I'll leave it as is and start on my new block.

What I ment with no internal work was that dont long blocks already come with the forged, rods, pistons, etc?
 

Mattstang04

15 Year Member
Sep 15, 2006
1,152
144
104
St. Louis, MO
Mar 28, 2013
#17
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #17
The link goes to a short block, but that is a complete bottom end. You wont have to put the pistons, crank and rods together in the block. You will have to put heads and cams on top of the short block. A long block would come complete with heads and cams already installed.
 

jahernandez

Member
May 14, 2011
64
0
6
Tulsa Oklahoma
Mar 28, 2013
#18
  • Mar 28, 2013
  • #18
That's what I thought Matt. Right now I'm looking at all options (short, long, crate) but I would prefer to build from the ground up. I plan on spending lots of money on this build would be dumb to use CL parts or cheapo parts which could end up hurting this build in the end. Modular Mustang Racing seems to have some nice blocks on there that I've been checking out. Have any of you guys built a motor before?
 

Mattstang04

15 Year Member
Sep 15, 2006
1,152
144
104
St. Louis, MO
Mar 29, 2013
#19
  • Mar 29, 2013
  • #19
I havent built one. Its a long term goal, its possible I might do one in the future. Of course I like the idea of buying a built longblock. Knowing its done right and any type of manufacturere guarantee is nice peace of mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

9
Unknown engine tick
  • 94 Daily
  • Oct 31, 2025
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
3
Views
159
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Nov 1, 2025
91AOD5.0LX
Valve hitting piston?
  • krazedstang
  • Jun 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
220
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 12, 2025
Noobz347
B
Engine Strange Noise
  • burntokita
  • May 8, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
400
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 11, 2026
keel
6
Only 1 Clean Valve on head?
  • 67Ranch
  • Apr 22, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
26
Views
792
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 26, 2025
AeroCoupe
K
Electrical 2000 GT Intermittent Engine Shutdown In Motion - DTC U1262
  • kenster1092
  • Apr 13, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
209
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Apr 24, 2026
squeak93
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?