What would cause a ticking noise only on acceleration? I was thinking it might be an exhaust leak but wanted to ask for input. Its gradual with the motor so the higher the rpm the faster it ticks untill it becomes steady and is lost in the engine noise.
I am not entirely convinced that it is a timing issue. If it was timing wouldnt the tick happen all the time? It isn't a metal sounding noise, to me it sounds more like a pressure noise which made me think exhaust. If you guys say its timing then I guess I can give it a try. How will I know when I have moved the distributor enough?
I wouldn't adjust the timing without a timing light, at least not much.
If it is an exhaust leak, you should be able to smell something from in the cab or from out side the car but maybe the leak isn't that bad. Also, try to see if the sounds seems to be comming from the drivers or passenger side. If it is the same on both sides it provably isn't exhaust. The leak is usually louder on the side it is comming from.
Ill see if i can get my wife to give it some gas while I listen. The smell thing is out the window. The exhaust dumps in front of the axle so all I smell is exhaust and gasoline. Inside the car it sounds like its coming from the passenger side but then again most everything from the drivers seat is going to be on the passenger side.
I had a really bad exhaust leak with my old exhaust. The doughnut/gaskets were completely worn away where the manifolds met the y-pipe. It made a really loud ticking noise that increased with the RPM's. Do you have headers or exhaust manifolds? I would check all the bolts from where they connect to the heads and where they connect to the exhaust. If you have the original manifolds on there I would suggest looking in to replacing the round gaskets that meet up with the exhaust.
Use a length of 3/8" rubber fuel line as a stethoscope and poke around the engine until you find the noise. If it does it without driving, that is. Mine turned out to be a spark plug wire shorting out on a header tube.
Hi:
It may seem overly simple, but it sounds like a basic problem with fuel mixture. Have you made any major changes with the fuel line, changed fuel quality, adjusted the carb?