So my 88 GTA L98 has had a nasty exhaust leak type ticking noise while cold since I bought it. I always assumed it was an exhaust manifold leak, and that I would just wait to put headers on it to fix it. But, I started paying my attention to it the past week or so. I noticed that when I start the car up in the morning, the ticking does not start right away. When I start the car completely cold, and it jumps up in idle the second after I start it there is no ticking noise. As the car comes down in idle speed to normal the ticking eases in and gets louder and louder. When the car warms up, it goes completely away and I never ever hear it while im driving. The service engine soon light also comes on intermittently, and sometimes when it does the car will drop in RPMS and almost die while I am sitting at stoplights in drive with my foot on the brake. Does this sound like the EGR? I was told if the car had a manifold leak, the car wouldnt idle steady like it does.

Find out what trouble code(s) the computer is setting. Go from there.

It is possible that an exhaust gasket wouldn't leak until the parts get warmed up. But, if you can hear the leak inside the car, you should be able to identify where it is under the hood.

I have a 87 GTA 350, I also have the intermittent dying at the stop light. i have codes 32 and 36. no egr codes. awaiting your codes