what could make a rattling/ticking noise from inside the engine?

For a while i've thought I have had an exhaust leak from a ticking noise... Which still may be the case as I see a carbon type residue on the underside of my hood right above the engine on the driverside...

but as I listen closer, I can hear a faint rattle/ticking noise which seems to be coming from the front/under the intake manifold area...

the car runs fine... in fact i've laid into it a few times lately just to make sure of it still running fine LOL... all is well... but this noise is loud enough and worrysome still the same...

I'm thinking it's in the valvetrain area, but i'm not a mechanic and am an intermediat when it comes to working on these cars...

any ideas?

don't really have many mods... intake, cat-back, Be Cool Radiator... nothing else is really relavant to this question...

 

You could have pucked the bearings out of one of the rockers, it common in older engines. Pull the valve covers and check for play in the rockers.

 

Hey Alex!

what do you mean "pucked the bearings"?

if I did do that, and I do find play in the rockers... what's gonna be the fix for this? Simply tighten them up... or get a new set of rockers?

 

I think he means Puked

they rockers have needle bearings and when they fail it throws out the bearings

 

He means the needle bearings I think Wes, you would need a new set or have them rebuilt

 

that doesn't sound good... where does the bearing go? Am i to expect engine damage from something like this? like i said car runs fine... i just got done driving it for an hour home... course i babied it the whole way, just to be careful until this weekend when i can tear into it...

 

Do I know you?

eh... i doubt i'd waste time getting them rebuilt... I guess yella terras are my next upgrade...

 

When the bearings fail, all the little pins find their way to the oil pan.

 

it's Jesse

 

look into the Harland Sharps

 

OH!

hey niccuh!

Harland Sharps huh? they are better priced... what's the difference between those and the yella terras?

 

so.... i'm guessing that means there's usually no damage then?

 

from what I know the HS uses the stock rockers and replaces the needle bearing and puts in roller ones I think.

 

Not usually.... they are heavy enough that they sink to the bottom of the pan.

HS modded rockers are your best bet if the needle bearing are indeed gone.

how's your oil pressure?

the only other think i can think off would be a collapsed lifter, at rpm the oil is able to pump it up and eliminate some of the noise.

 

my oil pressure seems to be ok... or at least the same it has always been...

at idle/low RPM's it sits at about 35 psi... when i get on it it goes up in the 55-60 area...

I would think a lifter would make the car have a noticable difference in the way it runs? yes/no?

 

bump...