I can't get rid of this engine tick I have. I know I have a lunati cam (hydraulic) I don't know specifics. The car makes plenty of power and nothing was bent when I pulled the intake off and looked at the lifters. Valley was nice and clean. I did a running valve lash adjustment, loosened till it clacked then tightened half a turn past when it stopped clacking. I then found a couple header bolts loose. I have copper gaskets. Do they go bad? They wouldn't blow out. So I tightened the bolts all evenly from the center out. Ran it at highway speeds and I still hear the tick. You don't hear it at idle just while your going down the road and it's faster with engine speed. You can really hear it while in 4th cruising at 55 mph. Still exhaust?

I would say it could be exhaust because decades ago i had an impale with a crack under the exhaust manifold between the cyclinders against the head it did not make noise at idle but the minute i touched the gas sounded like a loose rocker arm

Try some new header gaskets before anything else.

Yea I think that's it. I'll get new copper gaskets at summit and let you know how it goes.

Does the tick seem louder under load? If so, it is most likely an exhaust leak. If you are sure the exhaust isn't leaking, try a new fuel pump. The mechanical fuel pumps are notorious for clicking or ticking.

Under load all I hear is dual flowmasters screaming. It's loudest while cruising at hwy speeds. I don't hear it at idle.

What brand of headers are you running? In my personal experience, when using Hedman headers, copper gaskets just don't cut it. Hedman and other "cheaper" header's flanges aren't as thick as other "more expensive" brands. This will cause it not to seal with copper or even aluminum gaskets.

Now that being said, I'm not knocking Hedman in any way. I use them now and always have just because they are inexpensive. But I have always had to use the black Ultra Seal gaskets and make sure the bolts stay tight every now and then. It might not hurt you to try a different gasket material and see if the "tick" goes away.

[This message has been edited by GoldenOne7710 (edited February 13, 2005).]

I have had really good luck with the felpro header gaskets. A little $$ but even with warped flanges they will sell.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 80'427:
I have had really good luck with the felpro header gaskets. A little $$ but even with warped flanges they will sell.</font>
ditto

I have headman headers and I have'nt had any problems since I installed good flexable hangers behind my tranny to support the front of the exaust. As well as adding ss bolts and lock washers. Header leaks be damned. I plan on tack welding my collector flanges when I take my car out of storage also. Just incase the bolts do loosen off, I'll save my paper gaskets. Proper support is key to keeping bolts tight at the collector and primary flanges, and to keep the flanges from warping.

I had the same prob last summer after my rebuild. head gaskets leaking at one or more ports. replace header gasket with cheaping asbestos/ceramic exhaust manifold gaskets from CarQuest. Work great for me and cost a third of the copper gaskets that I've heard don't work so well. A little leak at the collect/reducer gasket will tick too. Mess around with gaskets till one works for you.

Does autozone sell any kind of header gasket? Or just manifold gaskets. I might try something other than copper.

Yeah and i have always bought two packs at Autozone and installed 2 on each side don't know others experience but i have had great success that way, make sure to re-torque the bolts after it heats and cools once.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Gary S:
Does the tick seem louder under load? If so, it is most likely an exhaust leak. If you are sure the exhaust isn't leaking, try a new fuel pump. The mechanical fuel pumps are notorious for clicking or ticking.</font>

Been there! I spent hours adjusting the rocker lash 3 times before I finally gave up on it. The fuel pump died a week later... replacing it took care of my "ticking". D'oh!