Heads "Clicking"
 

I fired up my 88TA tonight after buttoning everything back up this weekend. After the engine warmed up and settled in, I noticed there was a fast rythmic clicking that came from the passenger side heads. I shut the engine off in case the valve train was the problem.

It's a fast clicking sound, quite loud, from the passenger side heads. I also noticed that chugga-chugga sound from the exhaust instead of a smooth sound at idle.

Any clue what might be causing it?

Rocker arm or lifter would be my first guess, or an ignition problem causing a big misfire

an very small exhaust leak from the manifold / head will make a lifer type noize - jz

Ok this would make sense because the passenger side exhaust manifold was difficult to hook up. There was an exhaust leak there, then I was able to tighten the pipe up to the knuckle so that it didn't move - but there still may be a leak.

If its an exhaust leak, is there any possibility of damage to the manifold / head on the passenger side? Could I drive it somewhere (once I fix the tranny problem listed in another forum) to have someone look at it?

Thanks for the response guys.

very well may be a leak.

Definitely sounds like an exhaust leak to me. Did you go back and re-torque the header bolts a few hours after the initial torque, and then the initial run?

Did you check your exhaust manifold/header flange for trueness?

I torqued down the flange bolts just this past weekend, but I guess that doesn't mean I have them on there level / straight. I'll have to check that.

On the passenger side, there is a spacer / knuckle that goes between the pipe and the exhaust manifold (stock manifolds). Does this spacer require a gasket of some kind, or is it all supposed to be metal on metal? I wonder if I reseated the spacer wrong and that a small leak is coming from there? Or would the clicking sound come from the manifolds to the head area? I havent checked the manifold bolts to the head after it was originally bolted up after the rebuild.

LOL I'm not getting much work done today because this issue is really bugging me! :D

Sorry, I can't picture what you mean...

But if there is a bolted together connection anywhere in your exhaust, chances are it needs a gasket.

Ummmm all i can say is move your hand around the headers when they are COLD to feel for leaks. Dont do it when they are hot, I speak from experience :lol: and whatever spacer your talking about, im sure its gonna need a gasket... metal on metal is no good. If you dont find any leaks, im guessing a lose valve spring :shrug:

the spacer is actually a ball fitting on the one side and metal to metal on the other, thats how it is factory. if i get a chance later ill post a pic the the spacer.

So there's nothing that goes between the pipe and spacer, or the manifold and spacer? No gaskets or other fittings?

Hmmm...