Well my gf calls a little before 9 tonight, said she was pulling off the highway and it starting tapping real bad. Told her to pull over turn it off and id be there soon. So i get there i check it out. Oil looks ok, Oil Pressure ok. Start it up, loud tapping from the driver side head. Sounded like a bad exhaust leak at first like a cracked manifold but i couldnt really see/smell/feel it leaking from the manifold. Well i had enough tools to pull the valve cover partially off. Started it up, it was dark all i could see with the light were the springs, i couldnt see the pushrods on the other side. They seems like they were functioning fine but then again couldnt really get a good look. Sounds like a clear tapping from either the #5 or #7 cylinder. Anyway i decided to drive it back to her house and she follow me in my truck. Its only loud when you get over 2k rpms.

Anyway tommaro ill be pulling off the valve cover, anything i should be notice off hand when its off thats normal / not normal?

Collapsed Lifter, Bent pushrod, Spring binded? How should i go about diagnosing this?

Thanks guys for any help.

Also its for a 89 RS 305 TBI.

-Steve

 

k

 

I have the same problem with my GTA. But, it only gets that tapping sound when it warms up, not when it is cold. Sorry for this post, just trying to kill two birds with one stone.

 

I have no idea if it only does it warm, the car was warm the whole time ill have her start it in the morning just for the heck of it.

 

so you had the valve cover completely off and the tapping was still there? is it high end tap or low end tap? you can tell by naked ear.

 

No i couldnt get it to clear the fuel lines, had it up off a few inches, maybe i could but i didnt have **** for light or tools. It definently sounds up top and by the speed of the tapping of it nothing like a rod or main bearing.

 

im interested in seeing what you find

 

My car was tapping but the header bolts were just loose

 

Check for a loose, cracked, or broken spark plug first before you tear into it.