possible bent pushrod....help me diagnose this ticking

[FiveO]

so i thought my exhaust was ticking, got under the car and tightend hand loose nuts from the collectors connecting the hpipe...then i tightend very loose header bolts...figured that was the problem...

it still ticks...sound is coming from piston 2 region...but it sounds more like a exhaust type of leak then a bent pushrod or rocker arm. friend told me headers don't make ticking sounds when they leak....

i don't feel a power loss at all. and there isnt any smoke coming out of the engine.

what do you guys think?

 

[dastang2]

headers do make that noise when they leak.

 

[The Shape]

Headers will tick. My exhaust has a leak between the header and the H-pipe it ticks like a SOB.

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

I broke a timing chain at idle (go figure, it snapped the chain, brand new motor, 100 miles, literally) and the valves came into contact with the pistons. I bent three pushrods, and they ticked bad... BAD. Like a bad lifter. I haven't removed the heads yet to see if the valves are bent (although I've put about 4000 miles on the motor since then, and no power loss, and I didn't feel a power loss with the bent pushrods that I left in there for about 3000 miles because I didn't know they were bent) I didn't know they were bent until I broke a valve spring (dunno how that happened either with about 5000 on the springs lol, I have bad luck) You might just incase want to pull the valve cover off and the rockers and check to make sure.

Nick

 

[FiveO]

Headers will tick. My exhaust has a leak between the header and the H-pipe it ticks like a SOB.

the leak isn't there, well there was a leak there but i fixed that... there is a very distinct sound coming from cylinder 2 area. very close to the header region... i can't see any gasket breakage from the top but there could be a little on the bottom. buddy said headers don't tick from the flange, he didn't mean where the collector meats the hpipe.

 

[dastang2]

they tick anywhere they have a leak, there ar no differences in leaking sounds with headers and manifolds. what you can do it get some auto tranny fluid and suck some of that through a vacuum hose. your car will start smoking and everywhere you have a leak, you will see.

 

[jb89coupe]

This sounds stupid but check to make sure all your spark plugs are seated firmly. I thought I had a lifter/spring/valve issue for months - it was getting really bad so I finally took the time to throw it on a lift and go at it with a stethescope the other day. I narrowed it down to piston 6, right by the header, and sure enough the plug was loose and air was shooting out through the threads. 30 seconds to tighten the thing and no more ticking.

 

[N8Miller]

i had a bent pushrod one time. it sounds like when you flick an empty soda can...that hallow aluminum sound.