Ticking sound with video
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
Ticking sound with video I've been trying to figure out a tapping sound that bounces off of jersey walls and other cars. The top end of the valve train has been checked and I cannot find anything wrong, nor does the sound seem like it's coming from the top area of the motor or accessories. The sound definitely sounds like it's coming from the passenger side behind the front wheel. I took a video to try and get some opinions on it. Exhaust has been painstaking gone over to ensure it's not an exhaust leak. Anyone have any obvious solutions for this? I'm assuming it's a lifter ticking but I'm inexperienced with internals. Any chance this could be something worse like a crank or rod bearing?
https://streamable.com/0wv1t
https://streamable.com/0wv1t
Hard to really say, can you get a video in the engine bay as well. I have heard this before from an exhaust leak, from the plug wires arcing, as well as Lifters. So you have determined it is not an exhaust leak, can you get a mechanics stethoscope and determine a more pinpointed location? It sounds like a valvetrain issue and not a bottom end issue.
Is the car stock?
Did it recently start doing this?
Is the car stock?
Did it recently start doing this?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
I'm starting to wonder if my header flange isn't flat and I'm not getting a seal on the bottom side of the gasket. I replaced my exhaust gaskets a month ago because one blew out on the drivers side. I've used a stethoscope and haven't found an obvious location yet. The car is stock minus an exhaust and currently has about ~54,000 miles. It's been doing this for a few months now and seems to be getting more noticable (or I'm becoming more paranoid). I used the stethoscope on the valve cover and over thea areas of the block. Think I would have more luck taking the valve cover off, starting it and placing the stethoscope on the rocker bolts? Someone mentioned it could be a valve, possibly burnt, thats making the tick when it closes, and the noise is transmitting out the exhaust.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
I've owned the car for about 8 months and have but ~2500 miles on it. The headers have been on it since I bought it. I noticed the ticking sound 3 months ago. Since then I've down the following:
1) Replaced all exhaust clamps with band style.
2) Replaced manifold gaskets with Felpro
3) Tried running seafoam and Marvel Mystery Oil (hey why not) through the oil and changing oil hoping to free a sticky lifter.
4) Removed rockers and checked them and pushrods.
I've also been wondering if the ticking seems louder now after I messed with the rockers. Maybe I didn't set preload properly on the base circle and increased slack. I would have thought valve train noise would have been more obvious on the top end. I'm new to LS motors and have read plenty of spots where they're noisier motors thanks to aluminum block and heads with a plastic intake manifold, but I'm starting to question the boundaries of normal valvetrain noise.
1) Replaced all exhaust clamps with band style.
2) Replaced manifold gaskets with Felpro
3) Tried running seafoam and Marvel Mystery Oil (hey why not) through the oil and changing oil hoping to free a sticky lifter.
4) Removed rockers and checked them and pushrods.
I've also been wondering if the ticking seems louder now after I messed with the rockers. Maybe I didn't set preload properly on the base circle and increased slack. I would have thought valve train noise would have been more obvious on the top end. I'm new to LS motors and have read plenty of spots where they're noisier motors thanks to aluminum block and heads with a plastic intake manifold, but I'm starting to question the boundaries of normal valvetrain noise.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
Alright so I took another listen with my 1/2" extension and I can hear the clicking through all 4 header pipes on that side, all sounding similar in strength. What could cause a similar tick through all pipes?!
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Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
Currently I'm looking at replacing the exhaust manifold gaskets (again, they're only 3 weeks old), replacing the lifters, and replacing the throwout bearing. If those options don't fix my tick I'll probably sell the car out of paranoia.
headers tick...and they amplify valve train noises even worse on a all aluminum engine with a plastic intake as I already mentioned. You would know if it had a bad lifter...it's not something you second guess. A bad lifter causes a similar noise but it s much louder and intensifies with rpm. Put a hat on so you do not pull your hair out and go enjoy your car. 
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
headers tick...and they amplify valve train noises even worse on a all aluminum engine with a plastic intake as I already mentioned. You would know if it had a bad lifter...it's not something you second guess. A bad lifter causes a similar noise but it s much louder and intensifies with rpm. Put a hat on so you do not pull your hair out and go enjoy your car.
Thank you everyone for the input.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
Yesterday I replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets with a set of Percy's, did a compression test (all cylinders 185-190psi), and yet again checked pushrods and rockers. Nothing changed. I took an automotive stethoscope and checked all around and cannot isolate the ticking anywhere in the valve train, block, or transmission. Without the stethoscope I can distinctly hear the tick right at the passenger side collector. So today I put my leaf blower in the tail pipe and plugged the other, and sprayed down that collector with soapy water and didn't see any signs of leaking. Started to explore on LS1 tech and a lot of people say there heads are ticking just from the exhaust pulses in the thinner gauge metal. I bought the car with long tubes on it so I never got to experience the stock manifolds. Maybe I need to stop being paranoid and accept the logic that long tubes tick?