All Small Six Help with ticking noise

[DON]

Just brain storming here

 

[PSIG]

When I can't find the noise with a stick/hose/stethoscope, etc, it may be exhaust. An exhaust leak can change with speed or load, and suck or blow alternately. To find those, I use a heavy pair of welding gloves, start a cold engine, have a buddy hold ticking speed and quickly feel around, above, behind the manifolds first. I can feel the in/out and the sound will change. No joy and I'm moving down the manifolds to the joint. Typically, a gasket or crack. Hope that helps.

 

[clochard68]

I think I would double check the valve adjustments too. What pre- load did you set them at?

Preload is 3/4 of a turn

Exhaust leak at the header is really difficult to look for without burning myself, but I'll retry if necessary!

 

[wsa111]

Disconnect each spark plug wire & ground it one at a time & see if it changes for each cylinder.
Thats a good way to see if its in a piston or lower end.

 

[clochard68]

Thanks Bill, I will try this too!

 

[clochard68]

Hey,

Just wanted to let everybody know, it was the rockers hitting the baffle in the valve cover after all.
I put a second VC gasket in and the noise is gone.

Thanks for all the help, I guess I used thre wrong technique qith the stick to locate the noise, I honestly couldn't hear it coming from the VC...

 

[wsa111]

Great easy fix.