Im getting sick and tired of working on this car already. Since ive put the engine in ive torn the timing apart 3 times. Ive replaced all 8 exhaust lifters, all the guides, the chain and the tensioner. Ive replaced everthing in the engine with new parts except for the cams and waterpump which is only 3k miles old. Im running secret cams, wiseco pistons, eagle rods, new crank, deleted balance shafts, 2.3 oil pump swap, ss 1mm bigger valves, arp main and head studs all torqued properly and a ported head with a cometic mls stock thickness head gasket. THE PROBLEM: When the engine is running and when im driving i am getting this ticking noise almost like theres something wrong with the exhaust valves. Ive used the screwdriver method and narrowed it down to the exhaust side of the engine. Thats why i changed the lifters thinking it would go away, NOPE i was wrong. Still there!! So i changed the timing chain, tensioner and all the guides, NOPE STILL THERE! The timing is set dead on every time and the car runs and drives just fine, no bogging or loss of power, holds 20 in.hg of vacuum at idle and under decel goes to 25, goes into boost just fine. I cant for the life of me figure out what this noise is but i think i have it narrowed down to either the valves slamming off the valve seats or i was thinking maybe the valve springs arent strong enough but it doesnt make sense because im not using aggressive cams to need stiffer springs. Is there a need for stiffer springs with the ss 1mm bigger valves? I used the springs in my previous engine and they worked just fine and i had no issue with noise like this. Im ready to give up on this d*mn thing and sell the car its that annoying... If anyone has any kind of idea what this might be please chime in cuz im all out of ideas.........


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

Lifter tick......learn to love it.




I have no signiture

Exhaust least at the head?


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

how much oil pressure are you seeing at the head?

Exhaust leak !!

i'm calling exhaust leak aswell could be at the manifold flange



JBO since July 30, 2001

would an exhaust leak at the flange cause it to sound like a valve tick tho?


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

Yup. Ever heard a ford truck tick? Its cause they have @!#$ty exhaust manifold gaskets.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

yeah but this tick sounds like metal on metal.


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

I had that problem sounded like that and mine was a exh leak. Also have you tried a oil additive like marvel?/

Leafy wrote:Yup. Ever heard a ford truck tick? Its cause they have @!#$ty exhaust manifold gaskets.

How you gonna talk bout my '96 F150 like that? Passenger side ticking right now, haha. Guy at work has a bronco ticking also. Exhaust leak on a Ford doesn't bother me as bad as having to lift the motor to do an oil pan gasket, which is pretty common as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzrrw9tOhLU here's a clip of the noise. def don't sound like an exhaust leak


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

I take back what I said earlier. From that video, it actually does sound like an exhaust leak.




I have no signiture

it doesnt make the noise when im decelerating in gear not on the gas......


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

Doesn't sound like a exhaust leak to me.

Sounds more timing chain related to me.



FU Tuning

Did you properly reset the tensioner? Or possibly think about replacing it?

Publikdstrbnce wrote:Im getting sick and tired of working on this car already. Since ive put the engine in ive torn the timing apart 3 times. Ive replaced all 8 exhaust lifters, all the guides, the chain and the tensioner. Ive replaced everthing in the engine with new parts except for the cams and waterpump which is only 3k miles old. Im running secret cams, wiseco pistons, eagle rods, new crank, deleted balance shafts, 2.3 oil pump swap, ss 1mm bigger valves, arp main and head studs all torqued properly and a ported head with a cometic mls stock thickness head gasket. THE PROBLEM: When the engine is running and when im driving i am getting this ticking noise almost like theres something wrong with the exhaust valves. Ive used the screwdriver method and narrowed it down to the exhaust side of the engine. Thats why i changed the lifters thinking it would go away, NOPE i was wrong. Still there!! So i changed the timing chain, tensioner and all the guides, NOPE STILL THERE! The timing is set dead on every time and the car runs and drives just fine, no bogging or loss of power, holds 20 in.hg of vacuum at idle and under decel goes to 25, goes into boost just fine. I cant for the life of me figure out what this noise is but i think i have it narrowed down to either the valves slamming off the valve seats or i was thinking maybe the valve springs arent strong enough but it doesnt make sense because im not using aggressive cams to need stiffer springs. Is there a need for stiffer springs with the ss 1mm bigger valves? I used the springs in my previous engine and they worked just fine and i had no issue with noise like this. Im ready to give up on this d*mn thing and sell the car its that annoying... If anyone has any kind of idea what this might be please chime in cuz im all out of ideas.........

01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

i put a 2.3 1 piece tensioner on it


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners

A lifter tick would make noise just about all the time. Could be a broken spring. Replace intake lifters as well. And at least check for exhaust leaks.




Currently #4 in Ecotec Forced Induction horsepower ratings. 505.8 WHP 414WTQ!!!
Currently 3rd quickest Ecotec on the .org - 10.949 @ 131.50 MPH!!!

z yaaaa wrote:how much oil pressure are you seeing at the head?

Im leaning toward exhaust leak. I had a leak that sound exactly the same as a piston tapping the head.

z yaaaa wrote:

z yaaaa wrote:how much oil pressure are you seeing at the head?

This really needs to be address. That will tell you your answer. Or narrow it down quite a bit


http://www.overkillengineeringmotorsports.com/

OEM wrote:

z yaaaa wrote:

z yaaaa wrote:how much oil pressure are you seeing at the head?

This really needs to be address. That will tell you your answer. Or narrow it down quite a bit

Publikdstrbnce wrote:it doesnt make the noise when im decelerating in gear not on the gas......

Must confess, haven't listened to the video. I keep thinking that an exhaust leak typically is more noticeable while on the throttle and quiets down when off the gas.

how is knowing the pressure at the head going to narrow down what the noise is? its a loud tapping and it gets quieter once the engine warms up but its still there.


01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners