• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

ticking noise and down on power...help

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadMikeyL
  • Start date Start date Nov 21, 2004
M

MadMikeyL

New Member
Apr 3, 2004
16
0
1
Nov 21, 2004
#1
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #1
Ok, my car is actually not a mustang, it is a 91 cougar, but it has a 5.0 in it, so hopefully someone here can help. The motor is out of a 95 mustang GT and I swapped in a B-303 cam and GT-40 heads, bypassed the smog pump, and deleted all the A/C stuff. Here is the problem. There is a ticking noise that sounds like it is coming from under the passenger side valve cover, and the car is seriously down on power. Also the oil pressure is kind of low when idling (15psi in gear, 20psi in neutral) but comes right back up as soon as I get on the gas. I clocked my 0-60 yesterday with a stopwatch, and it was about 10 seconds. Considering it was 8.1 when the car was completely stock with 200,000 miles on it, it should be much faster than it is. Also the car is not producing a lot of vacuum. It gets about 10" at idle out of gear, and about 5" stopped in gear. I don't know what the bcam is supposed to pull vacuum-wise, but I get the feeling it should be more than that. Anyone have any idea what is wrong with my car? Thanks.

Mike
 
C

crunchie12268

New Member
Aug 4, 2004
599
0
0
Manhattan, KS
Nov 21, 2004
#2
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #2
hmmm, it could be a couple things. Your rocker arms could be tight, maybe you have adjustable roller rockers on the heads and they need to be adjusted.

Doe it do it all the time? Maybe you have a piston skirt knocking, or a sticking lifter, maybe a small exhaust leak. You could have plug wires arching. Maybe the low oil pressure is causing some problem, I know the oil gauges aren't all that accurate. And you do have a lot of miles on the thing, it is probably getting old.

Run a compression test, or take off the valve covers and check out your clearnances. This is just what comes to mind.
 
M

MadMikeyL

New Member
Apr 3, 2004
16
0
1
Nov 21, 2004
#3
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #3
Well the original motor is gone and this one only has about 65000 on the bottom end. The rocker arms are stock ones for a 95 GT. They are not roller rockers, and when I put the heads on I torqued all the rocker arms to 22ft-lbs. so I don't think they are causing the problem, but it could be. The ticking noise happens all the time, and gets faster/slower with rpms. The car does start and drive every day, and I have put probably 2000 miles on it since swapping everything. It also gets pretty bad gas mileage (like 13mpg average) but I don't know if that is to be expected because of the cam that is in it. What could cause it to be this down on power? It's just painfully slow. I've messed around with the timing but I can't get it any better. As soon as I advance it more, I start getting detonation (running 93 octane gas) but the power is still pathetic. I don't know what to do next. I am tired of tearing this thing apart then putting it all back together over and over again and still having the same problem.
 
C

crunchie12268

New Member
Aug 4, 2004
599
0
0
Manhattan, KS
Nov 21, 2004
#4
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #4
okay, so this started happening with the swap of the heads and stuff I am assuming. When you tighten your rocker arms you can't just tighten each one of them to 22ft/lbs. You have to rotate it around til the cam is at its highest point and then tighten down. (I think, maybe that is just with roller rocker)

But if you tighten down the rocker to 22ft/lbs when the cam was at the bottom of its rotation then it wouldn't put as much load on the lifters and spring as it would when the cam is at the top of its travel. In my opinion, it does sound like there is something wrong there. I think you should redo the rockers. Also, it sounds possible that it could be piston slapping. Do the rockers, b/c to me that could effect your oil pressure, and has a lot of symptoms that you are explaining.
 
C

crunchie12268

New Member
Aug 4, 2004
599
0
0
Manhattan, KS
Nov 21, 2004
#5
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #5
okay I just checked the manual really quick and you have to have your cam at the lowest travel then tighten to 22ft/lbs. If not the, you could have some major problems... I am going to assume that is what the problem is.... unless I am missing something and you did that.
 
M

MadMikeyL

New Member
Apr 3, 2004
16
0
1
Nov 21, 2004
#6
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #6
Well, I didn't rotate it when I tightened them. If that causes the symptoms that I have, then I'll pull the valve covers off and adjust the rockers. Thanks for the help. Hopefully this will solve my problems. Would that cause me to be down on power this much too?
 
C

crunchie12268

New Member
Aug 4, 2004
599
0
0
Manhattan, KS
Nov 21, 2004
#7
  • Nov 21, 2004
  • #7
hell yes you could lose power... if your valves are barely opening? Man... you might have some damage though, 2000 miles? That also explains your crappy gas mileage. Good Luck, post on the results!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Engine Strange Noise
  • burntokita
  • May 8, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
383
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 11, 2026
keel
2
Running very very rich
  • 2esoteric
  • Oct 31, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
337
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
Noobz347
S
Engine Stalls when downshifting/coasting
  • Scott_S
  • Nov 5, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
11
Views
699
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 6, 2025
Mustang5L5
W
1993 LX 5.0 dies after ignition parts replacement
  • Warhorse85
  • Aug 16, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 5 6 7
Replies
122
Views
3K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 4, 2025
General karthief
P
2000 GT Random Power Loss
  • Pinellas50
  • Mar 9, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
285
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Pinellas50
P
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 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?