292 with a nice ticking sound

[wancosc356]

Hey guys. I have a 67 c10 but I am told the motor in it is a 60-66. It is the 292 inline 6. I installed HEI on it and set the timing at 8 points advanced. And adjusted the idle. It runs very smoothly and idles nice. However, when giving it gas I get a ticking noise from the engine. It sounds like the upper part of the engine. I assume I just need to tighten up the lifters??? Or adjust something else? Im pretty new to working on engine internals. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. If you know what I should do could you please explain how to do it or point me in the direction of where to find out how to do it. Thanks
Michael

[Byronic]

Was it ticking before you installed HEI? If not there is no need to adjust anything other than the dizzy. There is a thread in here that shows you how to adjust your timing to prevent this. Just saw it today. I will try to find it for you. Look in the 67 burb section.

[wancosc356]

No. There was no ticking before doing the HEI. But then again. The timing wasn't set correct and the idle wasn't either. I just got this truck and got the HEI at such a deal...free....that I just went ahead and swapped it before messing with the old distributor.

Thanks for the info. Ill look for it.

[aerotruk63]

Tin can with a soldered coat hanger. The poor man's stethoscope.
Did you put a new cap on when you installed the HEI. Watch where you place the probe from the poor man's stethoscope though.

[wancosc356]

No stethoscope necessary. I can hear that it is coming from the valve cover.

When I installed the HEI, I put on a new cap, rotor, and ignition coil. Also new plugs and wires.

I just took it for a cruise around the block and it seems that the ticking mellows out the more it is driven. And it seems that it is only during the middle part of acceleration. Not sure if that info helps but thought I would throw it in there.

[aerotruk63]

Now don't get mad...oil level?

[aerotruk63]

Maybe rotate your HEI a bit at a time and see if it helps.

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Now don't get mad...oil level?

Im not getting mad. Sorry if it sounded that way. haha. Oil level is good too.

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Maybe rotate your HEI a bit at a time and see if it helps.

I tried setting the HEI at 6 points advanced too. Same thing.

Anybody think it could just be the lifters need to be adjusted???

[wancosc356]

??????

[71swb4x4]

Mine did it too, until I had boardmember 68c15 come over and adjust the lifters for me.
I bet he will do yours too, send him a plane ticket.

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

Mine did it too, until I had boardmember 68c15 come over and adjust the lifters for me.
I bet he will do yours too, send him a plane ticket.

Ok. Well I appreciate the agreement that it is lifters. Im sure I can figure out how to adjust the lifters myself. If anyone has a link with info or and info on the best way to do so, feel free to let me know. Thanks

Im sure he would do mine if I sent him a plane ticket. haha

[68C15]

ticking at PART THROTTLE?! sound to me like a classic example of pre-ignition due to a lean fuel/air mixture.

a lifter tick would be constant for the most part and not be dependant on engine load.

I would be more than happy to jump on a plane and help but I would rather wait until December. LOL

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by 68C15

ticking at PART THROTTLE?! sound to me like a classic example of pre-ignition due to a lean fuel/air mixture.

a lifter tick would be constant for the most part and not be dependant on engine load.

I would be more than happy to jump on a plane and help but I would rather wait until December. LOL

I drove it more yesterday and it is was ticking the whole time. The only time I couldn't hear a ticking is when it was idling.

Thanks for the input and advice. December is a little far off. haha. Thanks

[sixfour4x4]

Originally Posted by wancosc356

I drove it more yesterday and it is was ticking the whole time. The only time I couldn't hear a ticking is when it was idling.

Thanks for the input and advice. December is a little far off. haha. Thanks

sounds more like an exhaust leak. lifters sound like a penny in a soda can exhaust ticks. check your header gaskets, in the heat of summer the bolts have a tendancy to loosen causing your engine to spit out a chunk of gasket.

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by sixfour4x4

sounds more like an exhaust leak. lifters sound like a penny in a soda can exhaust ticks. check your header gaskets, in the heat of summer the bolts have a tendancy to loosen causing your engine to spit out a chunk of gasket.

Well Im pretty sure the intake/exhaust gasket needs to be replaced. So u think if I replace that, that would fix my issue?

[aerotruk63]

Exhaust leak, you should see black soot forming near the leak. does it tick only under load or when you rev the engine by hand?

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Exhaust leak, you should see black soot forming near the leak. does it tick only under load or when you rev the engine by hand?

there is black soot around the manifold. it ticks under load and when revved by hand.

[aerotruk63]

Usually if the timing's off it wont cause pinging when you rev without a load on the engine. If someone blocks off your tailpipe for you does the sound get louder at idle?

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Usually if the timing's off it wont cause pinging when you rev without a load on the engine. If someone blocks off your tailpipe for you does the sound get louder at idle?

Im pretty sure my timing is good. I haven't tried to have someone block off my tail pipe. What would that tell me if it got louder or stayed the same?

[sixfour4x4]

Originally Posted by wancosc356

Im pretty sure my timing is good. I haven't tried to have someone block off my tail pipe. What would that tell me if it got louder or stayed the same?

the soot around the exhaust manifold is pretty much the tell-tale, but if the ticking gets louder with a blocked exhaust, it's for sure an exhaust leak. i'd put money on it that it is anyways.

[wancosc356]

Originally Posted by sixfour4x4

the soot around the exhaust manifold is pretty much the tell-tale, but if the ticking gets louder with a blocked exhaust, it's for sure an exhaust leak. i'd put money on it that it is anyways.

Ok. Sounds good. Thanks for the info. Is it gonna hurt to run it like it is for a day or two until I can replace that gasket?

[Heater63]

I would bet on exhaust leak too, with black soot, you DO have some degree of a leak... but is it causing the sound you are hearing???
Don't discount the stethoscope. You can buy a cheap one under $10 at a nurses uniform shop; unscrew the head (called the bell) and throw away the thin plastic diagphram. Now hold the bell and go over the manifold gaskets (be carefull for the fan and belts!) and you will be amazed at what sounds you can pinpoint.
It could be detonation (pinging / knock) since you don't hear it at idle, but under load, and it started only after you altered the ignition system.
Your lifters are hydraulic and will be affected by low oil volume (mentioned above), and sludge---if thats the problem, some add a pint of Marvel Mystery Oil to the oil. They rarely need "tightening" but that could be the case. They can be adjusted with the engine running quickly, but messy. This is adjusting the "preload" and removes slack in the pushrod/rocker/valve train that can cause clicking. Takes more time, but less mess to adjust when engine is off. Either way, valve cover comes off. Should be plenty of articles online.
Get a mechanic to look at it for 1 minute. An experienced mechanic can usually tell the sound of an exhaust leak from a lifter within seconds. Not always, but usually.

[sixfour4x4]

as for driving with an exhaust leak, it's not a horrible thing, you won't blow up anything.

Originally Posted by Heater63

I would bet on exhaust leak too, with black soot, you DO have some degree of a leak... but is it causing the sound you are hearing???
Don't discount the stethoscope. You can buy a cheap one under $10 at a nurses uniform shop; unscrew the head (called the bell) and throw away the thin plastic diagphram. Now hold the bell and go over the manifold gaskets (be carefull for the fan and belts!) and you will be amazed at what sounds you can pinpoint.
It could be detonation (pinging / knock) since you don't hear it at idle, but under load, and it started only after you altered the ignition system.
Your lifters are hydraulic and will be affected by low oil volume (mentioned above), and sludge---if thats the problem, some add a pint of Marvel Mystery Oil to the oil. They rarely need "tightening" but that could be the case. They can be adjusted with the engine running quickly, but messy. This is adjusting the "preload" and removes slack in the pushrod/rocker/valve train that can cause clicking. Takes more time, but less mess to adjust when engine is off. Either way, valve cover comes off. Should be plenty of articles online.
Get a mechanic to look at it for 1 minute. An experienced mechanic can usually tell the sound of an exhaust leak from a lifter within seconds. Not always, but usually.

only problem i have with oil additives is they tend to foam your oil and where there is air, there is no lubrication. i'd not recommend seafoam in the oil just because of the potential for cam or rodbearing destruction. you can use seafoam in the oil if you keep the RPMs low and replace oil IMMEDIATELY. I would suggest replacing the exhaust manifold gaskets first, it's cheap, and not life threatening. If you continue to have a problem...do some research or have someone else do it for you.

[Heater63]

Yeah, you would run the Marvel oil just a little while, then change the oil. I've seen it work on a sticky lifter. It's an old trick, but so am I.

OK, you've had all Saturday to play with this, what did you find out?? The suspense is killing us.

[Frizzle Fry]

It could also be a compression leak due to a blown head gasket. You can blow a head gasket and not lose any coolant with these. I found mine this way after replacing the intake/exhaust gaskets.