Ok here is the deal, if I am at a stand still (not in gear or even in gear on the clutch) and rev the motor up, no matter how hard I get on the throttle there is no evidence of the noise.

If I am accellerating in gear, the clicking is noticeable, but only if I am getting on it moderately hard and have the windows down and radio off. If I take it out of gear or just get on the clutch and give it gas even if I give it gas harder then what I was when accellerating, no noise.

There are a few things I can associate may be the cause, but it's no guarantee, that this is causing it and I need to look at all the possibilities.

1. On the left most orifice of the exhaust manifold it is cracked completely around, but still making full contact with each side of the crack.

2. Where the headers bolt to the exhaust 2 of 4 of the bolts are missing.

And on top of all that the hood on the left hand side has a slight dent upwards allowing for a crack where the engine is visible and maybe this noise I am hearing is normal, and just amplified by that.

Now, I have been told numerous things, including throw out bearing possibly crapping out and valve lash.

I am also told that even though I don't hear the clicking when it is out of gear or clutched in while revving the motor it can still be irreversible internal engine from improper maintenance by the last owners.

It is a 1997 Honda Civic EX, D16 motor still in it.

Please give me things to check on or possibilities, the engine seems strong as hell, but I don't need to take risks.

 

Someone slap me if I'm wrong but it could be the lifters and you could need a valve lash