Ticking

[313Stang]

Ok so this morning I'm driving to work and upon takeoff my car shuttered a bit, I thought it was the trans slipping or something. When I lifted the hood I hear a ticking noise coming from the passenger side head. It sounds like the valve train. My question(s) is this:
1) If I need valve work how much am I looking at paying?
2) Is this a good time to go ahead and do the PI headswap?

thanx all.. by the way my car is a 96 Gt with 125k on the clock... Thanx again..

 

[03ghoststang]

i would just go ahead and do a PI swap

 

[313Stang]

Thanx.. I think I'm kinda leaning that way.. I need to have my engine rebuilt anyway because my piston rings are going bad so I guess I'll have all of it done at once.. good thing winter is on the way.. guess my baby will spend most of it in the "hospital".

 

[sgarlic]

I probably would've checked the oil level first, then if it was low, dumped some in and see if that helps.

 

[trailblazr81]

Ticking noise??

Iz bomb!!


I would check the oil level first. What did you do to cause the motor needing rebuilt after only 125K miles. I hoope mine lasts longer than that. I use all synthetic oils.

 

[313Stang]

My oil was low, which was surprising considering I just changed the oil about a month ago.. But it is burning oil and I was told it seems like I need new piston rings which calls for an engine rebuild. I topped the oil off and drove it but the ticking persist. I'm begining to wonder if the trans is going too because it seems to shudder between shifts (auto). I'm gonna take it to the shop and have them run diagnostics on it so I can find out exactly what's the deal..

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Perhaps a spark plug getting ready TO F'N BLOW OUT???

 

[sgarlic]

Check the tranny fluid level too.. does it hesitate when you put it in drive at first? Like it takes a second before you feel it go in to drive? Tell-tale sign of low tranny fluid if so.. good luck man.

 

[trailblazr81]

Now in my OLD cars with pushrods... when the oil got low and I could hear ticking from valves, I would use this additive when I filled up the oil to stop the ticking. You can find it at Autozone or Kragen with all the cleaners/fluids. Worked good. Comes in quart bottles. May want to give it a try if your trying to put off repairs for a li'l while.

 

[MaxedGT]

Could be spark jumping. Bad wire. Is it a snapping type of sound?

 

[313blkstang]

Ok Update... this is 313Stang, for some reason stangnet wouldn't let me post under my name.. go figure.. but anyway on my way home I decided to change the plugs and wires before taking it to the shop in the morning. I pop the hood and find that one of my wires has popped off of the plug.. I push it back on and PRESTO the ticking is gone.. I can't believe that mechanic looked at my car for 20 minutes and told me it was the heads or the valve train. That jerk was gonna charge me $1500 if it was the heads and all it turned out to be was a loose plug wire.. well I am gonna install the new plugs and wires in the morning and all is back to normal.. Thanx fam all of your suggestions really helped me..:SNSign: :Teh-Win:

 

[CENTENNIALSTANG]

Could be spark jumping. Bad wire. Is it a snapping type of sound?

Mine has done that im running NGK tr6 plugs with nitrous sometimes they back out at highspeeds have you drove the piss out of your car what octane do you put in it. how old are your plugs