That's what I hear sometimes. At first I thought maybe a exhaust leak but that's not it. I've got a 357, stock internals, mildish cam, stock high rise manifold, edel 650 carb. Non roller moter with 87 heads, stock except for full roller non self aligning comp cam 1.52 ratio roller rockers. Why the PO did this? I don't know. When I first got the engine, it ran great! No noises or anything. But lately I'll hear a tick around 2k rpm's. At idle you can't hear it, and it's a constant thing. A buddy said it could be a lifter??

 

Hi there,

Well as you don't have fuel injection you can rule that out It's probably a lifter if it's not an exhaust gasket leak. You'll have to pull the rocker covers and adjust to spec (I don't know what that spec would be as you have aftermarket parts) Alternatively you can buy these oil splash guards which allow you to adjust the lifters with the engine running.

 

Thanks! I'm hoping it's just lifters need adjusting. When I rebuilt the engine, I never adjusted the rocker arms, so that could be it as well.

 

I once had an annoying tick that was there only sometimes. Turned out it was the mechanical fuel pump and once replaced no more ticking.

I got a long screw driver, put the shaft end on the pump and my ear against the end of the handle and could detect the ticking that way.

Perhaps you could take off your belt(s) and see if it's your accessories?

 

Lucky! To be honest, it sounds like it's coming exactly from the drivers side head. I do know that my tensioner is way overdue to be replaced. It likes to move back and forth. Not only that, it's eating up my belt! Rubber pieces all over my engine. I will try that though, thanks!

 

Let us know if it's that which turns out to be the problem.

 

Actually, it's really evident now. You can clearly hear it from the exhaust. So it's something internal =/

Weird thing is it comes and goes. And it doesn't affect the performance of the car at all.

 

Well still no luck. Tightened the bolts up on my headers. Pulled the valve cover off and didn't see anything that jumped in my face. I've no clue as to what it could be now

 

if your rods do happen to be out of adjustment i dont think youll be able to just look and say yeah its that you'll have to actually adjust them.