No one else can hear them, but I can and damn it. The car runs fine, but when I lift up the hood and listen I can hear this "tick tick tick tick" and I am pretty sure it's not the rocker arms. I am almost certain the slip fit is leaking, but I was wondering how do I find the exhaust leak? Thanks.

 

I know what you're talking about. Just be sure it's not the rockers first. My edelbrocks have been leaking ever since they were put on. I've had several spots welded up but they still seem to leak..

Edelbrock middies

 

try some ultra copper on the slip fit, look for carbon on where you suspect the leak is coming from

 

sure its not the injectors firing?

 

How can I tell?

 

sounds very similar to a lifter/rocker tick, but not as loud or solid sounding as a lifter. are the injectors stock? basically youll need to rule out everything else to be sure. a couple things though. it will not get louder like a exhaust leak can, and its not loud to begin with. also dont forget valvetrain noise will be louder with headers.

 

The injectors are stock.....
So should I take the car up to 3k rpms and if it gets louder than it's an exhaust leak???
I did not know that, thanks.

 

With an exhaust leak, it will get less noticable but many times faster as you rev the motor. If it was a rocker arm, it would get loud as heck when you revved the motor and it would sound like it was about to fly off. If a rocker is loose long, it will break off, so I doubt that is the case with you. When the motor is off, rub around the header flange and see where there is "soot". You can also get a spray bottle and mix some water with soap. Spray it around the header flange or where you think it might be leaking and it will bubble up.

 

I always thought I had the same problem but my dad said if there's no carbon streaks on the heads around the ports then don't worry about it because modded motors are noisier anyway.