How do I tell if my ticking noise is a bent pushrod or an exhaust leak? I dident see any apparent exhaust leaks, but the trucks lowered so its really hard to give a really good look at some of the pipes.

The ticking noise occurs under acceleration when my radio is off(lol).

The exhaust system is as follows: Pacesetter LT's, Pacesetter ORY, gutted cat, e cutout(closed), magnaflow 6" roundx14" body. All the tubing is 3" diameter.

Im hoping its a leak. The headers are held to the ORY with a clamp, and theres one clamp on the ORY.

Thanks a bunch!
-Lurius

PS: I put this in the engine section because it seemed to make the most sense beign that it may be a pushrod, and I have checked the exhaust once beofre seeign nothing wrong.

-Lurius

 

How is your exhaust system put together? Clamped? Welded? If clamps, what kind did you use? When looking at the exhaust, are you listening for the sound or are you looking for soot? The latter is the best method, I've found.

You should go ahead and crack open the valve covers. Take out all the rockers and pushrods and hold the pushrods together on a flat surface and roll them. You'll be able to tell if any of them are bent.

If neither of these get you anywhere, it might be a bad lifter or something.

 

Alright thanks for the advice!

I check for the soot usually, as I said, the trucks pretty low, so I have to jack it up(even to change oil) to check it, and i'd rather not run it while on the stands, so soot works best, plus its loud lol.

I think im just going to deal witht he tickign for another month, by then the 408 should be in the truck and i'll go from there lol. Unless you think this could cause serious damage if it is bent pushrod.

Let me know,
Thanks,
Lurius

 

I don't believe a bent pushrod could cause much damage unless it was REALLY bent in which case I think it would be quite a bit more noticable and urgent sounding.

If you have a couple hours, it shouldn't take long to do what I described. All you have to do is pull the coil packs, remove the valve covers, take off the rockers, test the PRs, and slap it all back together. You just need a torque wrench and some loc-tite to get it all done.


EDIT: I just saw that you're in Arlington. If you've never done it before and need some help with it, shoot me a PM. I might be able to give you a hand with it if need be.

 

yeah it only takes like 2 hours to check out.

 

Naw, I can do it, im just lazy lol. With the new motor in another month I just wanna try and be lazy haha. If I get bored soon I'll check it out, if its bent then I can just put the pushrods that were going in the new motor in it till its finished I guess.

Thanks for the replies and the offers to help!

I'll double check the exhaust soon though.

-Lurius