Markm10431

I heard a sharp tapping from the engine this morning.. can't quite place where it is, but it seems to be coming from the right rear of the engine.

not sure what it is.. I'm thinking maybe a valve?

sammyb

If it sounds like a ticking, it could be an exhaust manifold leak. Try torquing the manifold bolts.

The Money Pit

How's the oil pressure?If that's OK,maybe the starter bendix is not fully retracting the starter gear from the flywheel.I had that happen to a 327 once and could have sworn it was a valve tapping,but when I replaced the starter the tapping went away.

SpyderD

Loose rocker arm? Use a rubber tube or something with one side to your ear and another to the engine to try to isolate the noise.

Markm10431

unfornately, I don't know what the oil pressure is. it's one of the non-working guages

Markm10431

would you hear that on startup? and would it increase and decrease with RPM?

Tominator

Is it a constantly make noise?

lpguthrie

I hope someone can help, I have the same problem... In shop twice, with no help. Did have someone say could be a bolt on the flywheel... I hadn't thought about the starter, could be :confused:

Markm10431

noticed it this morning when i was moving it.. also cause a gas smell, but I don't think they are related

SpyderD

Like I told you before until you isolate where the sound is coming from no one can help you. Also tell us - does it increase with RPM?, does it increase with speed? Does it go away when your car warms up? Is it from outside the engine (transmission/heater box/cables)? Is it coming from the valve covers? Is it coming from the bottom end?
...these are the possiblilities: loose rocker arm or valve train problem, exhaust leak at manifold, bad speedometer or tach cable, bent rod (bad news!), heater box fan rubbing against something, and about a dozen other causes.

motown 71

Try taking a long screwdriver hold it in your fist touch the screwdriver to various parts of the motor, touch the other end of your fist to your ear....you'll be amazed at what you hear !! Old timer trick I learned a couple weeks ago.... :thumbs:

Chuck Harmon

:iagree:

Chuck

Tominator

It was me that had a bolt come off the torque convertor, it's a very hard sound to pin point. It's a sound that isn't constant and sound like it's coming from the inside the engine. The bolt sits at the bottom of the dust cover and then the wind caused by spining parts (torque convertor) will pick the bolt up and start banging it around.

If that is the problem jack the car up and take off the dust cover and see if a bolt is in it.


[Modified by Tominator, 11:09 PM 4/12/2004]

Fevre

I use a length of fuel line, really made is easy to hear an exhaust leak I had, held one end to my ear while moving the other end near the valve cover where I heard the noice, once I past over the area with the burnt out gasket I could hear the ticking/clicking clear as day. :thumbs:

tomservo291

did you recently take off the valve covers and adjust any lifters?

A friend and I replaced a blown head gasket on a built 350 in a '79 camaro... and when putting it all back together one of the top lifter bolts (which were specially shaped to fit one way, curved bottom to fit the cup shape of the lifter) .. somehow got put in upsidedown (wasnt me!) and made a ticking sound.

I know that's off beat and 99% not likely your case, but interesting story none the less, was a real pain in the butt to find out what that was.

Markm10431

ony work that's been done is the tranny rebuild.. 5 days before I noticed the sound

bob369

easy to find a exhaust leak just use a length of heater hose and move it around the exhaust manifold.

Grinchia

Had a similar noise start all of a sudden while driving a week ago...broken intake valve on cylinder #8! Would still start and run :eek: , but very rough idle (go figure :D ). I couldn't see the problem until I started removing rocker arms...

-Roy


[Modified by Grinchia, 9:10 AM 4/23/2004]

Markm10431

im thinking broken valve also.. but I'm not sure

wacked

Sounds like a rocker, find it and tighten it a 1/8 turn.