Hey guys I need your help. I just got a set of Summit racing headers and their headerback exhaust. I finally started the car tonight, and I noticed that the ticking I heard before seems a little louder. Also, its smoking when you give it gas. And, its not revving past 3,000 rpm. Anything above 3,000 and it feels like its not getting enough fuel. I'm hoping the smoke is just oil in the new pipes and will eventully burn off. The ticking seems to be coming from the passenger side, and almost seems like valves, buts its actully louder under the car. Its not an exhaust leak, this is a definite ticking. Here are the specs...its a 73 convertible with a 302, automatic. Its got a 2 barrel carb. Any help would be great guys, and if I left out some info let me know.
Ticking, smoking
- Thread starter dsmGST91
- Start date
shotsy
New Member
Brand new headers will smoke a bit, My hookers smoked for the first few times I started it, Could the ticking be the headers expanding as they get hot?
The smoke went away, howeve the ticking did not. Its pretty damn loud, loud enough to hear it standing 5-10 feet away. Like I said its coming from the passenger side of the 302, and louder underneath. Could this be rod knock? :damnit: And like I said now It wont rev past 3 grand, it just dies out. The knocking was there before the exhaust, the fake rev limiter was not.
forgot to add that if you let it idle for a minute or two the ticking gets quiter, but as soon as you give it gas it comes back loud as before.
forgot to add that if you let it idle for a minute or two the ticking gets quiter, but as soon as you give it gas it comes back loud as before.
2nd Mustang
Founding Member
I wonder if the limited rpms is the engine starving for gas. When installing tubular headers, the exhaust flow increases so now you should increase input of fuel into the engine for it to run at the optimum level, but then again, 3000 rpms isn't very high. I don't know if it's an old wives tale, but I heard that running too lean after installing headers is not a good thing for the valves/plugs.
I’d be shocked if that ticking isn’t the headers. An exhaust leak will sound exactly like a bad lifter or valve. Are the headers getting red hot after you drive it? That is a sure sign of the engine running too leanly. It might be time to upgrade to 4 barrel…..that is a good thing.
Check the exhaust thoroughly again to make sure it is not the exhaust making that noise.
Check the exhaust thoroughly again to make sure it is not the exhaust making that noise.
302 coupe
Founding Member
check your spark plug wires. Make sure they are not burned or very close to the header. They can arc to the header, thus killing the spark.
Yeah the headers do look like they have a cherry red tint, could just be my eyes though. I cant drive the car right now since its not registered and wont be for another month or two, so all I can do is idle it 
should also mention that when I first bought the car, the wires on it were cracked and exposed, and one was arcing completely. I since replaced the wires, and the sound died down a bit, but seems to be coming back full force. It definatly sounds like its coming from the motor internally however. The motor is also blowing a bit of blue smoke when you step on it, however it wont go past 3k like I said before.
should also mention that when I first bought the car, the wires on it were cracked and exposed, and one was arcing completely. I since replaced the wires, and the sound died down a bit, but seems to be coming back full force. It definatly sounds like its coming from the motor internally however. The motor is also blowing a bit of blue smoke when you step on it, however it wont go past 3k like I said before.
302 coupe
Founding Member
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