Hey guys,
I rebuilt my D16a1 motor but it still has a very noticeable ticking. Its not rod knock and the valves have been adjusted several times but no change to the ticking.

I've heard wrong timing can cause the ticking sometimes. Timing mark alligns with the red mark on the pulley but the distributor is pretty much advanced all the way towards the firewall.

What could it be?

 

Injector pulses can sound like ticking.
Use a stethoscope to find exactly where the sound is coming from.

 

too loud to be injectors, almost sounds like a little diesel

 

well if it were a pushrod engine I'd have an answer.. what about rocker arms?

Can you get a sound clip of it? Most likely going to be something with how the the camshaft is working with the valves.

I can tell you though in my GTO, my injectors and valvetrain are pretty loud, and typically with any performance build, it's to be expected.

 

The valve adjustment the OP refers to is a valve-lash adjustment, where the clearance between the camshaft lobe and rocker arm pad is adjusted. If within spec, this gap should close up when the engine is at operating temperature so that there isn't so much noise.

Also why is this in the Integra forum if it's a D16 engine?

 

D16A1 is from 89 Integra. I will try to post an audio clip.

 

Ah gotcha. Probably should have specified what year car because most people probably aren't as familiar with the D16A1 engine code.

Yea my brother recently picked up a 99 Accord LX 5-speed, and it's making some kind of ticking noise, also. I did a valve adjustment, replaced timing and balance belts, water pump, etc. but it's still doing it. It only has like 115K on it, too. Hopefully it's not rod knock but I don't really know what that sounds like.

 

Only quoting myself here, because the 2nd part of the statement seems to have been ignored.

Seriously, try a stethoscope. It really does help to identify location of a sound.

 

stethoscope!!! Works everytime
Ignition timing can only be determined but testing it every car is slightly diff. especialy since its been rebuilt.
The cams lining means nothing unless the motor is at TDC double check to make sure.
Again using a stethoscope would help to isolate where the noise is coming from.

OR use the oldest trick in the book and run a thick oil