454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

85raiderburban · 12-21-2015, 12:45 AM

Hello all, I have a carbureted Gen V (1991) 454 with H.O. heads (casting 14097088) in my '80 'Burban. I have had this truck for 5 months and since then its had a faint ticking noise that I cant seem to pin point. It is the same no matter if its 110 degrees (southern NV summer) or 30 degrees outside temperature (winter in northern AZ high elevation). At light throttle its the same. Anything above mid throttle it gets louder. I have checked my exhaust (headers into cat-less H-pipe) and found no leaks whatsoever. I am thinking maybe the lifters or the valves. Not entirely sure as this is the first Chevy engine Ive owned that ticks like this. The link below is to a short video I shot last night (with my Galaxy S4) so you can get an idea of what Im hearing.

https://vid.me/j1F2

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

GM-power · 12-23-2015, 08:12 AM

Sounds more of like a rod knock to me... a video under the hood and revving would be helpful if you could post that. Oh and welcome to the forum!!

85raiderburban · 12-23-2015, 08:37 PM

https://vid.me/e/bhwL

Here is another clip. Notice it gets louder as I go lower with the camera.

**Boog** · 12-26-2015, 07:15 AM

Move your camera over to the fuel pump side of the engine and listen. Some times the spring inside the pump gets weak and allows a ticking sound from the fuel pump pushrod. I have seen AC and other brands of pumps do this.

85raiderburban · 12-26-2015, 04:08 PM

^^^ no mechanical pump provision on Gen V (1991) block so it isn't that. It gets louder closer to oil pan.

MountainGoat1966 · 12-26-2015, 05:24 PM

Use a mechanic's stethoscope and put the probe all over the engine, touch it to everything not moving.. When the noise gets the loudest, you are next to the source.
A rod knock will be much more pronounced when the probe touches the oil pan or lower edge of the block.
A lifter,valve or rocker when you touch the valve cover.
Good luck, and keep us posted of what you find.

franken · 12-26-2015, 09:28 PM

For the not really mechanics like me, a long screwdriver to an ear works as well...

85raiderburban · 08-21-2016, 07:46 PM

the high rpm ticking is the lifters. what of the lifters (valve cover clearance?) i still dont know. And the idle ive been unable to pin point.

12-21-2015, 12:45 AM	#1
85raiderburban Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: between AZ & NV Posts: 67	454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? Hello all, I have a carbureted Gen V (1991) 454 with H.O. heads (casting 14097088) in my '80 'Burban. I have had this truck for 5 months and since then its had a faint ticking noise that I cant seem to pin point. It is the same no matter if its 110 degrees (southern NV summer) or 30 degrees outside temperature (winter in northern AZ high elevation). At light throttle its the same. Anything above mid throttle it gets louder. I have checked my exhaust (headers into cat-less H-pipe) and found no leaks whatsoever. I am thinking maybe the lifters or the valves. Not entirely sure as this is the first Chevy engine Ive owned that ticks like this. The link below is to a short video I shot last night (with my Galaxy S4) so you can get an idea of what Im hearing. https://vid.me/j1F2 Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again. __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION '80 Suburban C20 (C6P) (Silverado) - '68 472 (Edelbrock 1813, PH8026 LT's, H pipe) / '91 4L80 (manual shift,vac modulator, 350 converter) / 14B FF 3.21 G80 34' s/ '96 GMT400 interior

12-23-2015, 08:12 AM	#2
GM-power Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 770	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? Sounds more of like a rod knock to me... a video under the hood and revving would be helpful if you could post that. Oh and welcome to the forum!! __________________ 1979 Sierra Classic Heavy-half 1996 Silverado x-cab "the daily"

12-23-2015, 08:37 PM	#3
85raiderburban Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: between AZ & NV Posts: 67	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? https://vid.me/e/bhwL Here is another clip. Notice it gets louder as I go lower with the camera. __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION '80 Suburban C20 (C6P) (Silverado) - '68 472 (Edelbrock 1813, PH8026 LT's, H pipe) / '91 4L80 (manual shift,vac modulator, 350 converter) / 14B FF 3.21 G80 34' s/ '96 GMT400 interior

12-26-2015, 07:15 AM	#4
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,535	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? Move your camera over to the fuel pump side of the engine and listen. Some times the spring inside the pump gets weak and allows a ticking sound from the fuel pump pushrod. I have seen AC and other brands of pumps do this. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

12-26-2015, 04:08 PM	#5
85raiderburban Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: between AZ & NV Posts: 67	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? ^^^ no mechanical pump provision on Gen V (1991) block so it isn't that. It gets louder closer to oil pan. __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION '80 Suburban C20 (C6P) (Silverado) - '68 472 (Edelbrock 1813, PH8026 LT's, H pipe) / '91 4L80 (manual shift,vac modulator, 350 converter) / 14B FF 3.21 G80 34' s/ '96 GMT400 interior

12-26-2015, 05:24 PM	#6
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? Use a mechanic's stethoscope and put the probe all over the engine, touch it to everything not moving.. When the noise gets the loudest, you are next to the source. A rod knock will be much more pronounced when the probe touches the oil pan or lower edge of the block. A lifter,valve or rocker when you touch the valve cover. Good luck, and keep us posted of what you find. __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

12-26-2015, 09:28 PM	#7
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,128	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? For the not really mechanics like me, a long screwdriver to an ear works as well...

08-21-2016, 07:46 PM	#8
85raiderburban Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: between AZ & NV Posts: 67	Re: 454 faint ticking - problem or normal?? the high rpm ticking is the lifters. what of the lifters (valve cover clearance?) i still dont know. And the idle ive been unable to pin point. __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION '80 Suburban C20 (C6P) (Silverado) - '68 472 (Edelbrock 1813, PH8026 LT's, H pipe) / '91 4L80 (manual shift,vac modulator, 350 converter) / 14B FF 3.21 G80 34' s/ '96 GMT400 interior

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