Iv had ticking and swore 90% sure it was from the motor but ended up being a loose piece inside my exhaust manifold right at the collector on a oem header.
Does the ticking accure at a certain RPM?

 

There is nothing in the downpipe that could be loose it's not the exhaust

 

here are some of the worst looking exhaust valves, i dont think it has anything to do with this but like i said, im out of ideas and i would appreciate any comments on what others think it might be

 

Bad valve seals? Maybe your valves have too much play in the guides .... (Wild guess)

 

would that leave marks or anything on the stems though? i would think it would. i didnt see any scoring or marking on them

 

Oh, ****...that would suck above all else that sucks, after all this..
missed this the first time...actually sounds sharp like that too.....
Mentioned it on the first page, wow.
Wouldn't even have to be a hole, per se, just a leak of any kind, damn.
Well, it's apart now, but I would try a set off a running car, screw a visual inspection.
You could take the wires and put 'em on another car and see if it snaps.
If it does, you got one of these comin'

 

I pulled the wires off one at a time to see if it stopped. It did not

 

Any more suggestions? Going to have the head cleaned up and reassemble it and put it all back together and see if it still ticks

 

I'm at a loss.

I can't remember though, did you pull the LMAs out and test each one to make sure one isn't collapsing or something?

If it still ticks when you put the head back on get a mechanics stethoscope and start probing certain areas to see if you can pinpoint where the ticking is the loudest

 

i already did. loudest on back drivers side corner of the head/ very top of the block. no noise in the oil pan, no noise on front of block. LMA's are h22 LMA's, they appear to be in good working order, and ive never heard of them having problems since they are spring style. they have spacers as well to since they are shorter than the oem b series LMA's. valve stems are not scored or damaged. no marks on pistons, valves, or head where anything is making contact.

 

Is there a possibility it's one of the valve seals? Will probably just replace them all anyway while I'm at it

 

Your valve images bother me


I'm looking at the face (dark ring in your case) of the valve that makes contact with the valve seat.
It looks to be rough and dull rather than smooth and shiny.
To me, this suggests that valve is burnt and not seating.

Are the dull areas just on certain sides of the valve(s)?
If so, have you rolled your valves to see if they are straight?

You are going to need to take all those in to have the face resurfaced.
I would just replace all of them if you have the funds.

Burnt valves make a ticking noise.

 

I see what you are saying, but that's an exhaust valve that's pictured and the intake is where the noise was coming from

 

And if it wasn't seating wouldn't the compression test show it?

 

Not always ... It will read lower but not dead unless it's really bent ... A leak down test would've been the truth

 

I'll get everything cleaned up and checked and see what happens when I put it back together. Thanks for all the suggestions, I appreciate it

 

Alright I am completely lost. Got the head back from
The machine shop, reinstalled valves, set valve lash, put the engine back together and it's still ticking. Even put in a set of brand new lma's and still ticking. Anybody got some gasoline and a match? Lol

 

are you sure you aren't detonating? even if its one cylinder (due to fueling issue or bad plug) those valves look strange to me

 

i havent driven it, its just sitting at idle. Im on e85 and my tune is good, so i dont think its detonation

 

the only thing i havent replaced is the rocker arms where the noise is coming from.

 

Since we are taking wild guesses, you try looking at the power steering pump? Just pull the belt off so it isnt working than se if that helps.

 

car doesnt have power steering. i did try that with the alternator though, didnt change anything. im really starting to lean towards the rockers, its pretty much the only thing i havent touched

 

Just for the hell of it changed out the rocker arms on the intake side as well. There is still a tick but it's much quieter than it was before. Guess I'll just drive it and see if it gets loud again.

 

You did adjust the valve lash right? Like you didn't just throw new rocker arms on than put the cam back in than put the valve cover on. You rotated each cylinder TDC and checked with a feeler gauge and made sure it's in spec and did that for all the valves?

Sorry I am real curious to your solution

 

yep. after the new rocker arms were installed valve lash was set again. .006 intake, .007 exhaust.