First I'd like to thank all the members here on this outstanding forum. The helpful stories and troubleshooting knowledge is second to none and have saved my *** with everything from misfire issues to nitrous setups.Thanks for all the input.

So here's my latest bout with the Lt1 that resides under the hood of my Vette. Starting about 3 weeks ago I noticed a ticking noise coming from the right bank. I had just finish a smackdown on a BMW 535 the night before with the aid of a 100 shot. The next morning I got up early and went to McDonalds, while waiting in the drive thru I heard a ticking noise.

Oh no, exhaust leak, lifter, loose rocker arm, noisy injector? So I limp her home and let her cool down and pop the valve cover. All the rockers are tight but I adjust them all just for piece of mind. Nope same thing. A week goes by and the noise is driving me crazy, so I tighten all the manfold bolts and change the collector gasket. Nope same thing and getting worse. On to the second week. Must be lifter collasping. Pull the rocker cover back off nope all tight but pull all the rockers and check for bent push rods nope all straight.

Week three buy two injectors off E-bay and replace the ones that the sound seems to be coming from. Nope still ticking.

Today I take off work early figuring I'll be pulling an intake and doing a lifter swap on a new cam and lifter package that has less than 500 miles. Hell I even called the wife out in the garage to listen just to make sure I'm not nuts. "Yep I hear it."

Then I do something that only happen it cases of shear desperation. "Where do you think the noise is coming from honey?". She looks me right in the eye and says the spark plug thingy. Guess what. The #2 plug was not even finger tight.

So as the title says. "You got to be kidding me."

 

Sounds like the wife is better mechanic. JK
But seriously the rules state.. "no wife comments without pics of said wife"

 

She's a better driver too.

 

Always check the easy stuff first.

 

Amen Brother!!!

 

Don't feel bad I do the same thing with my wife lol. She usually makes some sort of comment close to what yours did about "The Thingy" (not my thingy but the cars "thingy") and it usually enough to make me laugh and put me in a good mood when the car has me really pissed off. She can also get her long *** arms in places in the engine bay I just can't.

 

See? All the good wives are already taken!

 

I did pretty much the same thing on my 96 ta. I replaced the opti about 5 years ago and added new plugs and wires at the same time. I put the little plastic numbers on the wires then too. Only I had the numbers for 1 and 3 backwards.

Recently I had to replace opti due to a no start issue. Once I got it running I had a miss on #3 cylinder. Tried new plugs, adjusting valves, thought the exhaust was plugged (the miss sounded like a fart) even tried 2 more opti's. Girlfriend walks out with iPhone in hand and with a wire diagram pulled up and says "I think these 2 are marked wrong and swapped?"

Sure the **** enough! Problem solved, no more missing! Thank God we keep them around huh?

 

Women don't kid about anything automotive.

 

Happened to me too.

 

When I was reading this post it reminded me of the same thing that happened to my TA, simplest **** will drive you nuts.

 

Ockham's Razor

Put simply: "The simplest solution tends to be the correct one."

OP, glad you found your issue.

 

I was driving down the road and came to a stop light and heard a tick. Freaked me out. I even went as far as pricing motors that night from TSP. Well checked it the next day and #1 plug was finger tight. Tick could be heard through the headers tho. But when i touched the plug with my hand the noise quit. Lucky find..... Always start simple but we all do it.

 

lol good story. glad it wasn't anything serious.

 

That's funny!! I think we all have over thanked a situation before. Gotta love the women and their "THINGY'S" though lol

 

That's badass.
My wife spotted Terry Bradshaw walking in front of us a good distance back. I said there's no f-ing way he'd be walking here (going to a movie at some random theater in Grapevine, TX). Sure enough...

Anyway, yes if anyone hears a tick and it does not get louder under load then the first thing to check is the spark plug to see if it's tight.

 

Same thing here, I was looking at 383 stroker motors by about week two or so. It has been running good for 3 days now, I imagine it's about time for the opti to **** the bed. Never buy an old car if you have OCD. LOL