I took my chevelle out tonight, and got on it alittle. After getting out of the throttle, the motor is making a ticking sound. It's hard to pinpoint where it is coming from. I don't think it's a rod or anything, and it does not seem to be skipping. Does it sound like a lifter? Any suggestions? If it is a lifter, how do I find out which one it is?

Rocker arm? Mine loved to come loose on my old '68 years ago... graemlins/angry.gif

Well, I quickly pulled a valve cover on the side that I think the noise is coming from, (the motor is still screaming hot when I did this) Some are loose, but I did not crank the motor over by hand to see if it tightens up when the valve opens. Another thing is, that it does have the locks on the rocker arm nuts.

Let me also say, that it is a pretty loud ticking sound

One time mine was making a ticking, so I pop off the valve cover and found a rocker looser then the rest of them, when I pulled the rocker out, the pushrod came out with it. I looked down the pushrod hole and saw that the lifter came apart too. There was litle shavings everywhere but I pulled the intake and clean everything, even a oil change.

Anyone else any ideas???? I am going to cut the tops off an old pair of valve covers, and put oil deflectors on the rockers then start it up, to see if I can locate the noise. Can I use an engine stethoscope to pinpoint if it is a lifter? Where would I hold the stethoscope, right on the rocker where it hits the pushrod???? I just hate to tear the intake off and everything if that is not the problem.

Well here's a reply based on a recent experience. Check for holes in your headers.

I had a ticking noise in my engine, but couldn't find the exact location even using my stethoscope. But near the area of the ticking I did find a small hole in one of my headers using the 'scope (and boy was that ever loud!). When I plugged the hole using a thermal hardening patch, the ticking was gone!

hmmmmmmmmm, I'll have to try that, I just borrowed a stethoscope from my buddy, and am going to cut up an old valve cover. I'll try and see if it is a rocker or lifter by listening with the scope. Hopefully it's a header or something, I hate to pull the intake again!