Ticking/ tapping sound after driving awhile. - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 04:36 PM

Kinda odd, the only other time I heard this sound was last thursday. Drove the car plenty since then and didnt hear it again til today right before I got home. It seems to do it when the car is warm and it wasnt nearly as loud as it was last week. When i hit the gas it gets very fast (kinda goes in sync w/ my foot pressure to the pedal if that makes sence) and when I come to a stop its a very slow tick/tap. I know the car has a small exhaust leak which im waiting for a part to come in but if it was that I would always hear it. Im far from a mechanic but when I lifted the hood it sounded like it was comming from somewhere near the intake or motor.

69BirdX · 01-22-2009, 05:19 PM

Could be something in the top end. Check around the headers to see if there are any leakes there

CHRIS67 · 01-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Sounds like a valve or lifter tapping.

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69BirdX

Could be something in the top end. Check around the headers to see if there are any leakes there

Yea I think its more valve/ rocker related

...Ive had a few Lt1's and ls1's and it doesnt sound like an exhaust leak

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHRIS67

Sounds like a valve or lifter tapping.

yea thats what im thinking, whats involved in fixing it?

69BirdX · 01-22-2009, 05:31 PM

well if it only happens after the motor warm it sounds like it most likely is. Have to take the valve covers off and inspect the rockers and pushrods. May be just a rocker loose

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 05:35 PM

ok...i noticed one of the valve cover screws was loose so i guess thats a possibility

69BirdX · 01-22-2009, 05:54 PM

Yea then it may just be that rattling around. Also check your plug wires. Is there any loss of power?

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 06:00 PM

well i tightened it...the car feels strong...doesnt seem to be affecting power

69BirdX · 01-22-2009, 06:05 PM

then its not a valve tap or rocker. You would feel a loss of power. Hoepfully that makes the sound go away. I want to check your car out didnt realize you put an ls1 into it till now lol

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69BirdX

then its not a valve tap or rocker. You would feel a loss of power. Hoepfully that makes the sound go away. I want to check your car out didnt realize you put an ls1 into it till now lol

yea anytime man....Not big on reading sigs huh hahaha

69BirdX · 01-22-2009, 06:13 PM

I only looked at the mods ha ha

KirkEvil · 01-22-2009, 06:19 PM

Tighten your spark plugs. This happens to me about every 2000 miles, the tr55s I have start to back out and make the same ticking noise on and off, some times worse than other times. The ticking gets worse with acceleration then goes away after more acceleration because the car drowns out the noise.

It baffled the hell out of me since it started after I did headers, and I band clamped and tightened everything everywhere and the header bolts thinking it was exhaust leak.

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-22-2009, 06:31 PM

Yea now that you guys are bringing this up I think some sheeet just needs to be tightened up. I'll check all those things. I really dont feel any power fall off, the car pulled like a freight train this morning on that way to work.

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-23-2009, 08:32 AM

Well the sound continued this morning. On tech there saying possibly bent pushrod,lifter problem, low oil pressure, and here someone said maybe something loose...I wanna rip my hair out lol ....

Pampered-Z · 01-23-2009, 05:32 PM

Check for an exhaust leak, check the exhuast manifold bolts. Very common for them to break on the early LT1. moost common is the one under the alternator and the driver's side rear.

Also check the anti-backfire valves on the exhaust manifolds, if they go bad they sound like an exhaust leak. Pull the rubber hoes off the exhaust manifolds and start the car, nothing should be coming out of them!

JL8Jeff · 01-23-2009, 05:44 PM

When was the last oil change and what oil are you running? LS1's will have some piston slap when cold but you shouldn't hear it when warmed up. Can you tell if it's coming from one side of the engine vs the other?

LTb1ow · 01-23-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pampered-Z

Check for an exhaust leak, check the exhuast manifold bolts. Very common for them to break on the early LT1. moost common is the one under the alternator and the driver's side rear.

Also check the anti-backfire valves on the exhaust manifolds, if they go bad they sound like an exhaust leak. Pull the rubber hoes off the exhaust manifolds and start the car, nothing should be coming out of them!

Tis an LS1....

69BirdX · 01-23-2009, 06:40 PM

Ls1s are lifters make noise when the they arent pressureized with oil. But once warmed up it should go away. If it increases rate with the gas peddle its def top end

1QWIKBIRD · 01-23-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonmouthCtyAntz

Well the sound continued this morning. On tech there saying possibly bent pushrod,lifter problem, low oil pressure, and here someone said maybe something loose...I wanna rip my hair out lol ....

I had a ticking noise and it turned out to be a rocker arm failure. Car started and ran fine, but one of the rocker arms has spilled its guts. I'd pull the valve covers and check the valve train. Check all the rocker arms, none loose? Check all the valves, pushrods etc. Eliminate the really harmful expensive stuff. Then move on the other stuff.

Hopefully its just something stupid.

Chris

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-23-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

When was the last oil change and what oil are you running? LS1's will have some piston slap when cold but you shouldn't hear it when warmed up. Can you tell if it's coming from one side of the engine vs the other?

Synthetic Oil change last week 5w-10w 30 honestly cant remember been a busy week

. Well aware of the piston slap its not that...Sounds like its coming from the intake....maybe more the driver side...not sure. Checked the exhaust manifolds last week and there was no signs of leaks...welded up a tiny hole near the pass. side cat. Ive had exhaust leaks on past LT1's and it doesnt really sound like that...Gonna have someone look at it tommorow. Thx for all your help guys...

Pampered-Z · 01-25-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Tis an LS1....

DUH, Never mind!

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-25-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pampered-Z

DUH, Never mind!

You arent the first...

A board member and I took it for a spin yesterday and we think we narrowed it down to a possible lifter problem. Seems like a ton of others guys on tech have a similar problem w/ early ls1's. Guess were gonna tear into it Tuesday. If so I already found a good price on a ls7 lifter package

. Odd but it takes about 15-20 minutes of driving until it starts, then it increases and decreases w/ rpms... then it seems to subside/go away..

69BirdX · 01-25-2009, 11:51 AM

Not a bad fix if you need help let me know. My garage is also heated so i could make room for a night or two

CHRIS67 · 01-26-2009, 07:14 AM

I used to put some Marvel Mystry oil in a tapping engine when I changed the oil. It worked really good, but I'm not sure of any long term effects on the engine if any. Never held on to the cars that long afterwards.