Hey, what's that sound? + build vid

[Olythekid]

YouTube - Ford 2.3L clicking noise

Greetings Stangneters, I'm just done "rebuilding" a II for my daughter. I've got the block borred 30 over, installed new bearings/rings/ polished the crank.

I reinstalled the old heads becaused they looked "good enought" but I had that clicking sound
So I bought a new head complete from Marshall engines ... and I still have that dam clacketing sound

Local mech said it was normal, all those 2.3 Ford do that. I don't believe it, so I'm refering the ones that know It seems to be coming from cylinder #1 area. Would it be a problem with my lifter? ... but I have that with both old and new heads. Would it be a clogged oil galley leading to my #1 lifter?

Anyway, what the heck is it and how do I fix it?


Side info:
Initial timing is set @ 14BTDC, manual says 10, but I'm at high alt.

When I stick a vacuum gauge on the front of the intake manifold, the tunel leading to #1 cylinder I have 15" initially, needle is barely flutuating 1/2 inch. After the initial start up vac gradually goes down to 13" and stays there @ 1,000 rpm, warm engine. Maybe a slightly clogged cat? Pressure at the muffler seems pretty strong.

Now I live in Salt Lake, 4,200 feet high. When I gently accelerate engine tops at 17", jumps to 20 when I let go. On a fast rev, gauge goes down to 4". All that sounds normal.

Build vid:
YouTube - Summer's car "rebuild".

Thx for taking the time to read/watch, cheers!

 

[Delray Dude]

That video brings back many memories of my 72 Pinto...loved that car and the 2 bbl carb.


Anyways....that is the lifter clicking and it is quite normal for the 2.3 to do that - it will go away eventually. When I replace the head on my '93 Mustang (cracked the old head), the new head was a junkyard donor which looked fairly new (looks like they replaced the head and turned out the block was bad). Anyways, replaced the head and fired it up. I run a mechanical oil pressure gauge and knew I had good oil pressure. It clicked like that as soon as i fired it up. Drove the car (easy on the RPM's) to the girlfriends place - about 5 to 6 miles away - the clicking got softer and softer near her place. On the drive back home, the clicking was there a little for the 1st mile or so and then went away.

It's normal for these to do that from time to time. Sometimes I'll get the clicking noise on fire up and it'll go away after a few minutes - but the initial does take some time for it to go away. just don't go all out on the RPM the 1st few miles till it goes away.

 

[Delray Dude]

As for the vacuum readings - all fairly in the normal range - the warm idle vacuum is a little low, but not bad. my 93 2.3 pulls 14 to 15 at idle (manual transmission) and will drop to 0 on hard acceleration, will hit 20 to 25 on high rpm throttle back - steadys at 15 at 2500 rpm constant cruising. closer to 13 at 2100 rpm in 4th.

I live in Ft. lauderdale at sea level, so your readings may be slightly different due to your altitude.

 

[Delray Dude]

Nice build video. Looks sharp! Too bad you didn't have your hands on a 95 to 97 Ranger exhaust manifold (its a tube header) would make the motor look a little sharper and give you a few more ponies...

If possible (dont know the rules there) I'd loose the cat (or atleast hollow it out).

 

[Olythekid]

Thx for the fed back, sadly after 600 miles the old heads where stol clashing, and so are the new ones after 100miled.
Ty Delray,


I thought the lash was self adjusting. So there's really nothing I can do, nothing I have to tighten? It's prety loud, I hope I'm not destroying that new engine.

Next week ill get the car to a muffler place just to check it out. Ill loook at the yyard about that manifold too.

 

[Delray Dude]

wow - shoulda been gone by now. Might be clogged oil passage things you can try: drain the oil, pull the distributor and fill the engine with 2-3 quarts of mineral spirits or paint thinner. find the appropriate socket that fits over the oil pump shaft and hook it up to a drill and flush the entire system. run the drill for a decent amount of time. let stuff drain back into the pan - do this a few times, then drain out the stuff and replace the oil. might be good to have a thin oil to try next.

oil passage mighta got blocked by some break in lube.

 

[mtcowboy56]

i just bought a 86 notch with a 2.3 and it ticks, louder on start up. oil pressure reads good. drive with good power. i was told the head has been replaced.