ticking from passenger side head

[jdscofield]

I'm completely sick to my stomach.  last year, i had my 400 rebuilt.  before i even got it home, the transmission went out.  I finally got the trans rebuilt and as i was driving it home, it backfired twice and stalled.  So I suspected the holley 750 DP was running lean.  It sure was.  I adjusted the mixture and proceeded to check and adjust the fuel pressure.  I removed the fuel level screws and the fuel level was low.  as i started adjusting the fuel level, the engine starts ticking....loudly.  To me, it sounds like a bent pushrod or dropped valve, but this engine doesn't even have 100 miles on it.  My friend mentioned the timing, haven't checked it yet as i'm here venting and trying to cool off.  Anyone experience anything like this before?

[A383Wing]

is engine missing or is it just a noise? A dropped valve won't make a "ticking" noise...maybe you got a blown exhaust gasket? Take a mechanics stethoscope and see if you can pinpoint where it's coming from....if it's under the valve cover..pull it off and look...

[jdscofield]

it doesn't seem to be missing.  it didn't start ticking until i correctly adjusted the fuel levels as per Holley instructions.  got rid of the back firing but now i have loud ticking.

[cudaken]

JD, what kind of lifters does the 400 have?  If you are running a flat tappet lifter are you running ZDDP additive?

Long story short. My 68 Road Runner sat 8 years with out starting it. Stripped the oil pan bolt when changing oil. Used a larger drain plug that had a slow drip so I had to add oil oh say a quart every 2 weeks. I added a ZDDP additive when I changed the oil the first time and motor was great sounding. After say adding 4 quarts over a few months, it started ticking and it happened to be from the left side? 

My heart sank, I worked pretty hard to get the 383 ready for starting after sitting 8 years. Started thinking about all the oil I had to replaces!  Added some more ZDDP and the ticking was gone! 

Cuda Ken

[ottawamerc]

What about a possible exhaust leak? Do you have headers? IF it ran lean the exhaust would have gotten pretty warm and warped possibly or just leaking at the gasket. Leaking exhaust does make a ticking sound, if the engine is still idling and running fine I wouldn't suspect anything major

Good luck

Scott

[fy469rtse]

Yep on a new engine  , I would suspect exhaust at head leak ,
Leak will make a tick type noise

[c00nhunterjoe]

Surprised nobody has said lifters.....

[Cooter]

That's because I would assume one would want to attack the easy stuff first before just diving right in the internals of the engine.

[jdscofield]

Thanks for all the tips guys.  I readjusted the floats in the carb thinking I may have been flooding it.  Ticking still there.  However, it now seems to be coming from the front of the engine.  it's definitely coming from the top end.  speeds up as i give it gas.  pulled the valve cover off thinking the retainer clips came loose.  all good there and i did not see any damage to the rockers nor did the push rods seem to be bent.  I decided it's still under warranty, so the guy who built it can fix it.  I'll keep you posted on the out come

[jdscofield]

by the way, i pulled the valve cover off and the casting number is 7979007.  Anyone ever hear of them.  i can't find any info on them.