93redBirdMan

Well in the past month my engine has gotten a slight ticking noise. Normally when I think of a ticking noise i think of loose rockers. Lately this noise has gotten louder and today i really noticed it driving to lunch. It gets louder as the rpms climb. Do you think its more likely rockers or lifters?? The engine only has about 35k miles on it (its a AC delco remanufactured LT1). The car still feels strong so im guessin its not a lifter, what do you guys think.

BUBBA

You need to analyze it yourself. First of all make sure you have good oil pressure to give you some assurance that wer're not talking internals.

Isolate: Is it coming from one of the Valve covers? If so, pull the cover and check it out. If it is one of the rockers, see if you can adjust it out.

An inexpensive engine stethoscope from Auto is a good investment.

If it is not coming from the valve covers, is it coming from one side or the other of the block---as in a head gasket, or header gasket leak?

Can you narrow it down to a cylinder, as in plug or wire.

Isolation/elimination are key---difficult to tell where the noise is coming from without isolation. JMHO

93redBirdMan

K thanks, yea i'll look into the engine stethascope. The engine does have good oil pressure. Maybe I'll also retighten the headers this weekend and see if that takes care of some of the problem.

ShowStopper540

yeah, a loud exhaust leak right at your manifolds/headers will develop a nasty tick, and bubba is very right, the stethescope would be a damn good investment seeing as odds have it you will need it down the road also, and im sorry to tell you this but even a lifter with 500 miles on it could have a factory default, someone may have assembled the plunger inside of it poorly or it my just not have pumped up as well as it should have, whatever the reason, take your time, issolate the problem as bubba instructed, and dont EVER rule out even the most obvious/simple solutions

93redBirdMan

ya for sure. I was just assuming if I had a bad lifter it would make a nastier noise and/or my performance would be lacking. The car feels fine and drives fine.

1997Z

I am no mechanic, but I had a ticking sound that increased that I thought was an exhaust leak too. The guys that installed my Vig found a loose spark plug. I was losing compression. The car runs MUCH better. Just a thought...