[oldguard60]

I have a 71 chevelle, "freshen 350, 290 hp, 4 barrel, ac, at". Picked up the car in october last year, since then I have heard a ticking noise from the engine, especially when idling.
How do i fix? Is there some type of special lube I can use? I have had the oil and filter changed a couple of miles ago, no help. I was think about changing the oil and filter ago and adding a qt of slick 50. I have had very good results with this product when I was in alaska.
Any other suggestion?

 

[DONTWANT2]

I have heard the old schoolers say. Put a half a quart of tranny fluid in it and run it for 5-10 minutes. Then change your oil. I can remember doing this when i was a teenager and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

 

[ironhead]

Any chance you can use a stethoscope to zero in on the noise?
Noisy fuel pump/loose rocker arm/exhaust leak at the head flange etc.
Is it running rough..tick under the dist cap or spark jumping to ground?
Just some things to consider.
Noise can be hard to diagnose over the internet.One mans clack can be another mans tick.
Doesn:t sound like a high mileage engine needing some marvels mystery oil to clean up sludge.Try to isolate the noise before removing the rocker covers.

 

[oldguard60]

Thanks, I will try to isolate the noise, maybe some marvel mystery oil.
Not running rough. Starts and idles fine once warmed up. not missing or burning oil.

 

[Dean]

I freed up many stuck lifters by pouring Winn's Engine Tune Up down the push rod very slowly with the engine idling back when I worked at service stations in the 60's. I'm not sure if it's even still made or not now, might have to use Rislone, it worked almost as good.

 

[70-SS454]

This should do it....and only $3 !

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-HT817/

 

[Ronin8451]

Add some Marvel Mystery Oil or Rislone to the oil and drive for a couple of weeks. I have had good luck with both on used engines with stuck lifters. Throw that Slick 50 in the trash .

 

[The Old Reliable]

Drain a quart of oil. Add a quart of ATF.

Run RPMs up to 1500-1800 for 3-5 minutes, or until lifter "unsticks".

R & R oil & filter.

 

[Ethan1]

Any chance you can use a stethoscope to zero in on the noise?
Noisy fuel pump/loose rocker arm/exhaust leak at the head flange etc.
Is it running rough..tick under the dist cap or spark jumping to ground?
Just some things to consider.
Noise can be hard to diagnose over the internet.One mans clack can be another mans tick.
Doesn:t sound like a high mileage engine needing some marvels mystery oil to clean up sludge.Try to isolate the noise before removing the rocker covers.

I agree. It could be several things.:yes:

 

[davewho1]

Headers?

As others have said, it could be an exhaust leak. I thought I had a lifter ticking, but it turned out to be a bad header gasket.