How bad is this?? I initially thought it was piston slap, but doesn't go away. After letting the car idle for a few minutes it gets quieter, but as soon as I rev it up a little it comes back. I'm thinking a lifter is going bad, I pulled the valve covers off and everything looks and feel good.

 

Try a stethoscope (harbor freight $5) all over the engine wherever you can reach
In my experience a lifter tap doesn't really pinpoint from any specific spot, and it seems to be louder under the vehicle.
If you put your camera/head under the car do you hear it more from the bottom of the block?

It does sounds like a valvetrain related item, sounds like fast idle about 720 to 750rpm, is that correct? 6 to 6.3 times ticking per second.

It does sound worse than usual lifter ticking. I would like to hear a small rev of the engine and from under the vehicle as well. But honestly with a tick that is happening at half engine speed that sounds like that you really ought to check every rocker arm, consider using a dial indicator to check the depth and lift of the lifters, look for needle bearings in the head and feel for rough rocker arm engagement. Feel pushrods for wobble. Consider a new set of hard pushrods and lifters of course new head bolts gaskets etc... And while you are in there it maybe a good chance to do front main seal and fix some threads or whatever on the head if needed.

Also you absolutely need to check oil pressure immediately with a manual oil pressure gauge. Alot of those older engines even low miles develop sucking air from oil pickup o-ring it leads to air cushion in lifters? Which leads to tapping and low oil pressure at the back of the block, make sure to test mechanical oil pressure from the back of the block behind intake manifold I would do this immediately. Especially if the tick just suddenly started.

How did the tick start? how bad? gotten worse? Noticed recently? More info on that would help.

If oil pressure is good try thicker oil, experiment with mobil-1 synthetic 10-40 for example, if its a worn lifter, bleeding lifter, oil orifice stuck/crud lifter, the thicker oil will slightly change the ticking tone and this is a major diangostics clue

heres my tick notice the different oils different ticks, good oil pressure, old 240,000 miles lifters (200k~ at the time of video it has 240k now and its louder)

 

Pull your codes. Any check engine light or misfire? You actually removed the valve covers to inspect the rockers, springs, etc? Mechanics stethoscope is an excellent isolation tool.

 

Old post update... I think I found the issue, loose camshaft sprocket. Looking at it from inside the valley cover. I haven't tore the front cover off yet, but it looks like it is loose. Has anyone heard of this?

 

Yes i've heard of the bolts backing out if blue or red loctite wasn't used. But i dont think thats the same sound.

 

Just a tip on reinstalling and tightening the cam sprocket; DO NOT use RED Loctite!! Blue will work fine. If you use red, it is considered non-removeable. This is because it will often break off bolts when you try loosening it unless you use heat, a lot of heat! Just the opposite of Franks red hot sauce-I don't use that %#@! on anything!!

 

LOL I didn't know what color but heard someone talk about it. I never used loctite on those bolts that's why i mentioned both colors.

 

Houston, l found the problem...

 

So not the pin, but the main bolts. At it's an easy one.

 

Yes, the bolts backed out, pin is good. Putting it back together with a new timing set, oil pump and balancer. Wish I could do a cam and lifters, but that's not in the budget right now.

 

Good catch!! Use a dab of blue Loctite on them....

 

I used one of those lock plates

 

Yep, new ARP bolts and loctite.

 

Besides, the heads are a PIA. Anyway, you dodged a major bullet!

 

One more update... Finally got it done. Took her for a 20ish minute rip last night and everything feels and sounds great! I replaced the oil pump with the Melling high volume one and do see around 5 psi increase in oil pressure at temperature. Forgot how much I enjoy this car!! Next plan is a good detail job this weekend, then its ready just in time for summer! Haven't driven it since last August.