GabeH12

Is this odd sound from the lifters ticking. She just started making this noise today and I have no real clue what it could be. She's running the same as always but is just making this obnoxious sound. I'll leave a link to the video here. Any help is greatly appreciated!

https://youtu.be/RZPo48N0V0s

80-Vette

I would pull the valve covers and take a closer look

GabeH12

What exactly should I be looking for? Really scared that this could possibly be a spun bearing.

terry82

its not a spun bearing .could be several things. loose rocker arm ,fuel pump,maybe a exhaust leak,could be lifter noise.i would get a wood rod broom stick handle or cue stick..put on the motor where you think the noise is coming from .put the other end to your ear .

GabeH12

I hope you are right about it not being a spun bearing. Hopefully I can diagnose the problem quickly and let you all know.

DUB

All I can say it does not sound like a lifter ticking to me. the sound is to sharp. The sound does not sound like a 'CLACK'.

And it is not a bearing so do not freak out about that. A bearing knock generally does not sound like that.

Use a stethoscope and listen for it.

DUB

GabeH12

Ok so I think I located it to this area here...

HeadsU.P.

Go ahead and order / purchase a set of FelPro Valve Cover gaskets so you won't have much down time. Ideally, you need to see valve springs / rockers move on that bank of cylinders while running. That will tell you a lot. Rocker arm clips are available to keep oil from spraying everything while idling. They come in a set of 8.
Look for excessive valvelash, broken valve spring, or a pushrod acting weird. Check to see if every rocker stud has the same amount of threads showing.

And are you running two PCV valves?

Hamerdown

Many years ago I though I had a dreaded Lifter ticking > > > turned out to be a 'little' exhaust gasket leak. Several of the Exhaust manifold bolts were loose...I now check once a year.
EDIT...I like using a 3-foor wooden dowel pressed to my ear and then touching-around the suspect noise. The wood tends to filter out the surrounding noises...nice little trick.

80-Vette

Sounds more like an exhaust leak to me. Check all the exhaust manifold bolts. If they are all tight I would check each of your spark plugs. You could actually be getting blow because of a loose spark plug. Sounds crazy but I have seen it before. If that isn't the problem I would suspect a burnt exhaust valve.

DUB

GOOD CATCH!!!

YES,,,it looks like two PCV's are being used. IF so...get rid on the one in the passenger valve cover and connect it to the underside of your air cleaner base via installing a fitting made for this or put a crankcase breather in its pace.

Having TWO PCV's is just not right and it is not helping out at all.

DUB

GabeH12

​​I appreciate all the help guys. Definitely going to do everything you all suggested in about an hour.

GabeH12

Two PCVs are not being used. The previous owner decided to just cut the tube and leave it there. So in a way it's a ghetto crankcase breather.

pawpaws toy

Sounds like spark jumping to ground. Plug wires in that area looks off. Also sounds like engine has a dead miss.

stingr69

Fuel pump could be making the sound. Check the fuel pump pushrod ends.

JayRay

Does it get louder when you are accelerating on the road? I had something similar and was a loose manifold bolt causing an exhaust leak, I would check those exhaust manifold bolts before adjusting the valves. I was literally able to turn one of the bolts by hand, tightened up and all was good. Good Luck.

DaveL82

I have 80 L82 that had a with the similar tick. Never found anything so assumed it was forged piston slap at 90K miles. Eventually replace with ZZ4.

GabeH12

So found out what it was... just needed to replace the valve spring.

HeadsU.P.

Post # 8 gets the cigar. Now you need a valve spring compressor tool and a piece of rope to put in the sparkplug hole.

derekderek

Heads up got it right. Clothes line. Make sure piston is down. Feed in a foot or 2 of rope. Crank (with a wrench) the engine til piston mashes rope up against valves.