I have a '90 RS 305 TBI, no mods other than headers.

I just started driving the car after about a year and a half. I remember this being a problem before I stopped driving it.

Anyway, when you first start the car it sounds good and normal. However, after driving the car for about twenty or thirty minutes you can start to hear a tick in the engine, in sync with engine speed. Anyone know what this can be?

It's also giving an SES light within three seconds or so of starting the car, every time.

Oil pressure is good (~30).

 

a ticking is probably a stuck lifter, tappet noise. What codes are you getting ?

 

sounds like it could be a exhaust leak.

 

If its an exhaust leak at the collector or header if its a slight leak you wont notice it until your on a load.where if its a lifter youlll hear it all the time.

 

I agree, I have found that exhaust leaks tick mostly when you are leaning on the throttle up a hill or something. Does it do it at idle too?

 

It does it subtly at idle. Much more noticeable under load, almost like a motorcycle.

I added some oil (no dipstick, when I installed the Hooker 2055's there was no room for the dipstick to work properly) and the ticking diminished significantly.

I'll check the codes tomorrow or the next day and get back.

Also, I found a vacuum hose broken near the rear of the engine, right near the distributor. I don't know where the vacuum hose goes. One end connects to a little three sided piece that splits away and the other end broke off, anyone know where this vacuum hose might end up going?

I checked the headers, they're all secure. They're secured with Percy's deadsoft gasket's and Stage 8 locking header bolts. THOUGH, the y-pipe has had bolts come loose before. I haven't checked whether there is a missing bolt there.

 

Hmm, if it definately changed with adding oil then ins most likely something internal probably a lifter. So did you plug the dipstick hole? It is highly concerning to not know how much oil is in the engine. That should be the first thing you need to fix.

I am not sure about the vac hoses... they probably have something to do with the codes. Is the vacuum advance to the distributor still connected?