loud clicking / tapping sound ??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
loud clicking / tapping sound ??
Something went wrong in my engine. I started up my Vette and now there is a loud clicking / tapping sound. I don’t think it’s a valve tap. I think the sound is coming from the distributor? I took off the distributor and made sure nothing was loose, but when I put my hand on top of the distributor I can feel the clicking. What do you guy’s thing the tapping noise could be.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
I'd listen to your valve covers with a long wood dowel or screw driver to your ear...it could be a broken valve spring.....anyway,you can probe your engine that way to isolate /locate origin of noise...
Rich
Rich
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 298
From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
I had one of those AIR check valve coming of the exhaust manifold recirculation system, rot off on the bottom so you did not see it. I thought I was dropping a few lifters until I stumbled on to the culprit. I fixed it with some JB Weld over 10 years ago and it holding fine.
JU
JU
Last edited by John Ulrich; Oct 16, 2007 at 01:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Something went wrong in my engine. I started up my Vette and now there is a loud clicking / tapping sound. I don’t think it’s a valve tap. I think the sound is coming from the distributor? I took off the distributor and made sure nothing was loose, but when I put my hand on top of the distributor I can feel the clicking. What do you guy’s thing the tapping noise could be.
Make sure the distributor has vacuum. Also, pull the cap again and check for any loose screws or broken springs.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
I had one of those AIR check valve coming of the exhaust manifold recirculation system, rot off on the bottom so you did not see it. I thought I was dropping a few lifters until I stumbled on to the culprit. I fixed it with some JB Weld over 10 years ago and it holding fine.
JU
JU
This I did…one of the spring loaded screw things was loose and I tightened it, but the noise continues
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
Yep....
Check the archives maybe, because I had the (potentially) same thing last spring.
Turned out it was a header gasket crack on the rear of the engine (closest to the distributor). So it sounded like a clacking/tapping/slap sound at the rear of the engine.
New header gasket....wala!
Check the archives maybe, because I had the (potentially) same thing last spring.
Turned out it was a header gasket crack on the rear of the engine (closest to the distributor). So it sounded like a clacking/tapping/slap sound at the rear of the engine.
New header gasket....wala!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Yep....
Check the archives maybe, because I had the (potentially) same thing last spring.
Turned out it was a header gasket crack on the rear of the engine (closest to the distributor). So it sounded like a clacking/tapping/slap sound at the rear of the engine.
New header gasket....wala!
Check the archives maybe, because I had the (potentially) same thing last spring.
Turned out it was a header gasket crack on the rear of the engine (closest to the distributor). So it sounded like a clacking/tapping/slap sound at the rear of the engine.
New header gasket....wala!
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Use the wood dowel or a piece of heater hose to listen through. Listen to the FUEL PUMP. Mine started clacking and it was the pump rod. I replaced it....quiet again.
Good luck ..
Good luck ..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Had the same exact noise and the guy who built my engine put his hand on the distributor and it went away.
Turned out the distributor drive gear was moving up and down inside the engine because I did n't have the end gear shimmed properly.
Took it out and had it fixed in under an hour and back in and noise was gone.
Turned out the distributor drive gear was moving up and down inside the engine because I did n't have the end gear shimmed properly.
Took it out and had it fixed in under an hour and back in and noise was gone.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I blow header gaskets almost everytime I really get on it. Tried 3 or 4 different types. Could be a header gasket even though you replaced it a year ago. They sound like a metallic clicking sound almost like valvetrain noise.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
So far I have tried all that I can think of…
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
So far I have tried all that I can think of…
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Well there is a crate motor in your car's future so a catastrophe from driving would be easier to take and like you said might push you to get your crate motor faster.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
So far I have tried all that I can think of…
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Some how I can’t figure it out, I need someone who knows better than me to listen to it.
I don’t want to have to take it to a shop but this one is over my head.
I’ve been planning a crate motor for my baby and this could be the push I needed. I don’t want to spend money to fix this, to than buying a crate motor.
Do you guys think I should try driving the car a little and see want happens to the noise?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
With engine at idle, listen to each valve cover by contacting wood dowel inline with spark plugs below...if nothing there, listen to fuel pump as suggested...(block wheels)..you can also probe around engine block..just be careful around waterpump/fan belts,etc...
I found a broken valve spring doing this on my 78...
I found a broken valve spring doing this on my 78...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
last night I tried listening to the valve covers I can’t be certain where the noise is coming from. All I can be certain about is the noise is coming from the rear of the engine.
I’m going to take the valve covers off tonight...
I’m going to take the valve covers off tonight...