Help Me Diagnose Ticking Sound

[Rusty76]

I have read every "ticking sound " thread over the last couple days.
Here is what I have going on.

Cold start loud ticking sound towards the back passenger side of the engine.
After about 60 secs it settles down and you cant really hear it.
Out on the road when I gas it the ticking comes back and is correlated to the amount of throttle. Once I let off the gas the ticking slows as the Jeep slows down. NO gas no ticking. Great oil pressure and great compression.

This is a newly rebuild engine. I'm really trying to figure out if its lifter noise or exhaust leak. What I've read it sounds like exhaust but after many hours moving both the tube to ear and stethoscope around I cannot find a leak. I also took valve cover off and tighten the bridge bolt. Just a hair. They all felt tight.
In the am I'm going to put a new gasket on the choke tube and the other emission thing (name escapes me).

I did have new exhaust put on. The tick started a few weeks after that. I did check around the Y-pipe. Seems normal. If I know I would not cause any damage I'm thinking about driving it to my builder shop and asking them to diagnose and I will do the work to fix.
I will keep you posted. Thanks

[wiley-moeracing]

Do you have a torque convertor bolt loose? Thrust bearings going out on the crank? Piston slap? Lifter sticking?

[Rusty76]

More to investigate
Thanks

[fsj454]

spark plug

Check for loose spark plug . When you rebuilt motor did you use stock head bolts or ARP

[rws31]

Try the easy things first. Sounds, no pun intended, like an exhaust leak at an exhaust port to me.

Remove the exhaust gasket and look for burnt or discolored spots. Beats tearing into the engine only to tick afterwards.

If it only ticks when cold, start it up cold and have someone block off the tail pipe and see if the ticking sound changes tone.

[Tripwire]

agree with the exhaust leak, my manifold has a hole in it that does the exact same thing

[Full Size Jeeper]

Within the first 60 seconds of a cold start, pull the plug wires or ground the plug wires on the left side and see if it goes away.

[Brynjminjones]

What kind of exhaust manifold gaskets were used?

After my engine was rebuilt, over the first few months several of the manifold gaskets failed, causing the same symptoms you described.

I had used the multi-part gaskets, with a separate one for each port.
I changed over to Remflex gaskets where all the ports are joined, and haven't had a problem since.

[Rusty76]

Thanks everybody. When the engine was rebuilt I believe they used stock headbolts. As for exhaust gaskets I put on the multi part ones. Dig into that today.

Ok so I have a bunch of time today. I'm going to go through the list and check everything.

I agree the way I'm describing the ticking it does sound like exhaust but I've had 2 experienced people come over and they both said mechanical.
I'm still hoping for exhaust.
I was going to drive it to the shop that rebuilt my engine and have them try and diagnose it. I really hope its nothing serious like wiped cam, cracked block.... I've only put about 1500km on it. Followed the break-in perfectly.
Keep you posted.

[J20 project]

Perhaps a diff thought...pushrods?....non adjustable rockers, right?


J20

[Rusty76]

Well I spent the day trouble shooting without any luck.
I was reading over my break in paper work confirming I did everything right when I noticed they want it back at 800k for a tune up. So dropped Jeep off at shop this evening. Prior to the 40min drive I feared the worst but it drove really well. Lots of power, cruising along at highway speeds with 60psi, idle at 15-20.
Cross my fingers..

[threepiece]

I had a 400 Ford that suddenly developed a slight ticking while on the freeway while hauling a 6000 Lb. trailer. After several minutes the ticking got louder. This continued for nearly 1/2 hour. The trip ended with a loud bang!

A tear down revealed a broken valve spring was the cause. I ended up needing a new block, piston and valves.

Removing the valve cover is not difficult.

[rang-a-stang]

I had a 400 Ford that suddenly developed a slight ticking while on the freeway while hauling a 6000 Lb. trailer. After several minutes the ticking got louder. This continued for nearly 1/2 hour. The trip ended with a loud bang!

A tear down revealed a broken valve spring was the cause. I ended up needing a new block, piston and valves.

Removing the valve cover is not difficult.

[J20 project]

Opinion of course....


You, and or your engine rebuilder maybe did not measure the worn length of your pushrods, and or the wear on you rockers/lifter assembly....

Over the years, having been around a lot of rebuilt 360's...I saw that most folks do not measure that..don't spend the money on rockers...normally spend the money on lifter and cam...but typically put the stock rockers and pushrods back in....

Need I say more....? At least it gives you something to consider..

J20

[Rusty76]

I will need to double check what the builder did. I'm pretty sure the only thing from the original block was the block. This is my first project, prior to jumping into the deep end my mechanical aptitude started and ended at doing my own oil changes. I've learned sooo much but the one aspect that I would like to get better at is diagnosing stuff but I guess that just takes time.

Threepiece that is nightmare story! I did take both covers off and everything had oil coming out of it and was tight.

I dropped Jeep off yesterday evening. Apparently they started today. Hopefully hear tomorrow. I'm passed my 1yr warranty time wise but with only 500k I hope they work with me. Keep you posted. I fear its bad... No news is NOT good news..