Very Loud Ticking fe360....I'm baffled

[seeonsilverscreen]

I have a very loud ticking noise coming from my motor and am baffled as to it's source....otherwise truck runs great. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Here's a link to the video:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4WB899HpXuXnRJqF9

Thanks

[DuckRyder]

Based on laptop speakers which probably are not the best to listen on, I’d say you have lost a lifter or rocker arm, probably on the right (passenger) side.

It is possible it is an exhaust leak but sounds too metallic...

I would use either a mechanic stethoscope or a long screwdriver/pry bar (you can touch this to a component and put your ear on the handle and it will amplify any sound) to listen and try to pinpoint the sound.

You can also remove the belts to eliminate the water pump and alt (don’t run it but a minute or two) and feel around the exhaust manifolds for escaping exhaust (careful it goes without saying the manifolds and exhaust pipes are hot).

I see valve covers coming off in your future though, and I would not run the motor with that noise past maybe a few minutes diagnosis time. Once you get the valve covers off look for broken springs, cracked / broken / bent pushrods or rockers/shafts. If the top end looks ok, time to get the intake off...

[seeonsilverscreen]

I have used the rubber hose stethoscope and still can't quite narrow its location down. And it only seems to happen after I run the motor to operating temp and after I shut her down within 5 minutes of a restart it will start the knocking. Will take those valve covers off next and keep looking..Will post back with results

[DuckRyder]

Try the fuel pump too...

[sargentrs]

Had that happen to me. Ticking drove me nuts. Used a stick as a stethoscope and found it when I touched the fuel pump. Surprised me. All these years and I didn't know a fuel pump would cause a ticking sound.

[sparky72]

Being that it runs fine otherwise, I am inclined to doubt that it’s valvetrain related. To be sure though, can you put a vacuum gauge on it and see what the story is there?

Also, is it a manual or auto? Something could be loose and touching something on or around the flywheel

Fuel pump is definitely a possibility as well, or possibly the pump eccentric on the cam. Easy to remove and inspect so I would probably start there, since you can inspect that without running the engine.

[seeonsilverscreen]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts.....I'm diving in first thing in the morning.....will let you guys know what I discover..

[Johnnewc]

My brother's 390 made about the same sound. We pulled the valve covers off and saw a couple rocker arms not moving. It turned out that the engine had a couple broken lifters. They were replaced and then the engine purred like a tom cat in a creamery.

[seeonsilverscreen]

So folks,


First of all thank you to everyone that offered their insight. Here is what I discovered.

I took my valve covers off and my rocker arms, springs and lifters were all fine and oiling well

I could hear the tapping, clicking coming from the first spring on number (5) cylinder front of motor driver's side.

Push rod was fine.

Turns out that what I had was a STUCK VALVE that wasn't opening and my push rod was hitting the valve stem instead of working in unison with it. After getting that valve unstuck with some "valve quiet" from NAPA

She Sounds like Her old self again...1969 Camper Special, fe360, no P/S , no P/B, Tripple Gas Tanks, 1 Behind seat, 2 Saddle tanks, Lunar Green, Wimbledon White. 32,000 original miles

Thanks

[sparky72]

Weird! Glad you got it figured out