Engine ticking... What are my options?

[hollowch]

My carbureted 302 has recently developed a ticking noise. The tick is directly proportional to the RPMs. Its very hard to tell exactly where it's coming from by listening. What are some things that I could check without having to tear down the whole block?

 

[Revelation]

Stuck lifter or rockers need adjusted.
Now if it was a knock that is where the problems start..

 

[Broncobowsher]

exhaust leak? a blown header gasket at the port sounds like what you describe.

 

[Bronco717274]

While your motor is running pull the plug wires off the dist. one at a time, the sound will change when you find it.

 

[Madgyver]

change your oil.

 

[hollowch]

While your motor is running pull the plug wires off the dist. one at a time, the sound will change when you find it.

Just tried this... Nothing. Tick stayed.

 

[hollowch]

change your oil.

I guess it is about time for that to happen. Just curious, what's your angle on this being a possible solution?

 

[piack]

If it's a mechanical ticking like a lifter or rocker failure, you can pinpoint it with a long rod or screw driver going along in contact with the valve covers and up to your ear (careful of the fan and stuff of course).

If it's an exhaust leak along a manifold I use a Christmas wrapping paper tube or something to channel the sound and listen along all the cylinders.

Just my first thoughts.

Paul

 

[blubuckaroo]

It could be a stuck lifter. I have freed them by doing an oil change and adding a pint of Berrymans Chemtool. I would change the oil again after running it a couple hours though because it can loosen up a lot of sludge.

 

[needabronco]

You can also add about 8 ounces of ATF to the oil, it'll loosen up sticky lifters also. And again change your oil after a day or two. If that makes you nervous, you can accomplish the same thing with Slick 50. I had a Mazda truck in high school that needed 12 ounces of that stuff at every oil change to keep the lifters quiet.

 

[broncnaz]

I guess it is about time for that to happen. Just curious, what's your angle on this being a possible solution?

Over time the oil thins out oil pressure goes down and the lifters dont pump up like they should and can cause ticking.

I'd also say its a exhuast leak. If its not a exhuast leak then it could just be normal wear or a weak lifter. Worst case you did have stuck lifter or valve and a pushrod is bent which is now causing the ticking. I just had this happen to 2 pushrods on my 71. I really need to get it out and drive it more been just starting it every so often.

 

[68rockcrawler]

I had a ticking sound that turned out to be an exhaust leak due to a failed header gasket. Hopefully this is your problem. An easy test would be to pour some seafoam in which will make it smoke a lot and would show very easily if you have an exhaust leak. Not sure if this would damage anything else if you have a more serious problem or not.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Does it still tick after warming up? Sometimes a lifter will loose it's prime and just need to run until it pumps back up. Also it could be that when the motor was assembled, the rockers were adjusted too close to the zero lash setting. I have had that happen and went back and did a running adjustment on the lifters. Pretty messy but it was a success.

 

[hollowch]

Does it still tick after warming up? Sometimes a lifter will loose it's prime and just need to run until it pumps back up. Also it could be that when the motor was assembled, the rockers were adjusted too close to the zero lash setting. I have had that happen and went back and did a running adjustment on the lifters. Pretty messy but it was a success.

Yeah it ticks cold and hot. I just tossed in a 1/2 pint of seafoam earlier today. The tick still hasn't gone away. I'm going to give it another day, then swap out my oil and add some more seafoam. If that doesn't do it then I'll start investigating exhaust leak

 

[hollowch]

I had a ticking sound that turned out to be an exhaust leak due to a failed header gasket. Hopefully this is your problem. An easy test would be to pour some seafoam in which will make it smoke a lot and would show very easily if you have an exhaust leak. Not sure if this would damage anything else if you have a more serious problem or not.

I didn't notice any smoke when I added the seafoam to the oil. Does it smoke when adding it to the oil or to the fuel line?

 

[asinor]

Seafoam won't smoke when you put it in the oil unless its leaking in to the cylinder.

It will smoke, steam actually, when you put it in the fuel.

 

[wildbill]

One more thing it can have a stud lift a little and that will make one lifter tick. You can remove the valve cover and pur a strait edge on the top of the studs and make sure one isnt taller than the rest. If you find one you can just replace it and go. Also on one of mine it did that it was a broken piston. good mluck with your's.
Bill

 

[dave67fd]

The exhaust should be the first thing you investigate. Get a piece of small diameter hose (fish tank, fuel line etc.. ) put up to your ear and probe around the exhaust manifold at engine and collector gaskets.

You should also know if you need an oil change or not.

You should be able to at least determine which side it is comming from or at least a good guess. Last case, remove the valve cover thats in ? and cut a piece of cardboard cut to the inside length of the head and position on the outboard side of the motor to catch any oil splash and it will allow the oil to drain back into the head. (park on level surface and on dirt so you don't mess up your driveway if you have one) If you have a stock oil pump it shouldn't be too bad and if you have the tick at idle you won't need to rev it.

Again use the tubing to your ear and get closer to the spring/valve/ lifter assy till you locate.

 

[Rustytruck]

At the dark of night open the hood with all the lights out and start the engine look for ignition sparks leaking to ground.

Another thing to check when the motor is warmed up and running look for a cool exhaust port. Take a spray bottle of water and spray at the exhaust manifold and watch the water boil off they should look like its incerating the water off. If it looks different like just boiling or steaming off check that hole for spark or a bad plug.

I had a tick once and it was a dusty coil top. when dry it worked fine but in the early morning when the humidity was high it would tick as the moisture in the wet dust would intermittantly short the ignition and jump to ground.

 

[nosaj2k]

I thought all small block Fords ticked?