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Old 05-29-2015, 05:26 PM   #19
Fitz
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tucson
Posts: 2,183
Re: Mystery engine noise, hyd. lifters? Help guys...

Quote:
Originally Posted by briscuba View Post
Hi, factory 402BB/400TH, headers, 1970 CST/400

I posted this about a year ago and have some follow up. STILL a mystery to me, hoping someone can help please.

I am hearing a "ticking" noise in my engine compartment that I'd say sounds just like a sticky lifter. We've all heard this ticking before with hydraulic lifters... However, I recently replaced all my lifters and found a bad one (did a happy dance thinking I had it licked!) I did not change the cam. Valve adjustment done many times, timed well and sounds great. Runs great. STILL ticking. Ugh!! So annoying.
Here are some details:
1. quiet with covers off, adjusted fine, all 16 valves. quite with covers on.
2. increase ticking on acceleration, decrease on deceleration.
3. lifters new, exh. manifold gaskets new, header to muffler gasket new
4. sometimes makes no noise at all
5. hot or cold same symptoms

See pic, I've been told the low profile valve covers sometimes have clearence problems? Don't think it's speedo cable... Any ideas?

Thanks guys!!
You've got Headers on that truck! Headers are notorious for leaks. A very small exhaust leak can, and often does, sound just like a lifter ticking. If you don't have a long (14-16 inch) screwdriver get a length of 1/4 in iron rod. Use it as a stethoscope at each header tube right at the flange, if one is louder, you just found your "tick".
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