ticking sound

[ncsu brandon]

i'm getting a ticking sound at idle, and perhaps driving but i can't really get under the engine to hear...but while i am driving i am getting a bit of hesitation or lag under heavy generally at higher MPH as well, but it's sporatic and doesn't happen like clock work...

i made some videos mainly just to get the audio but some crappy video there to provide some reference to where in the engine i'm at...they are like 400KB so it won't take long to download...see what you can make of the sound, i'm thinking i may need to get the valves adjusted but i don't know for sure

Video 1

Video 2


i'm also playing with the idea of my wires being not the greatest. Right now they are going on a year old, which shouldn't be a problem, but the shop that did it last put on some brand called belden they are 7mm and high temp supposidly

lemme know if any of these is on the right track or if not what you think it is....thanks for the help

 

[jelloslug]

Could be a stuck or failed timing chain tensioner or it could be lifter shims out of spec. When where the valve shims last checked?

 

[ncsu brandon]

THIS JUST IN....

i just did some snooping and i've discovered quite a bit of oil in my spark wells, this my seals are bad...so...any comments is this a DIY type replacement cause it was just done by a shop or supposed to have been done not more than 4 months ago and well didn't turn out so well...but could this be done at home?

 

[ncsu brandon]

not sure when we checked the valve lash....how do you do that anyway?

 

[jelloslug]

Look here: SHOtimes.com They have lots of very useful info on the care and maintance of SHOs.

 

[ncsu brandon]

ok so i gather from this that doing this and replacing with that FelPro kit should fix both those problems...being the tapping and that nice pool of oil in my wells...if so i'm guessing i should go ahead and replace the wires and plugs at this time since they are most likely almost fouled out....with that what recommendations on brands should i put in there?(both wires and plugs?

 

[HopefulSHO]

Well...while you're in there, you might as well do your 60k valve adjustment if you're going to have the valve covers off for gasket replacement anyway.

Plugs & Wires. Use the stock Motorcraft replacements avaiable from Ford Parts Network . Wires are around $100 and plugs are $4 each.

A set of valve cover & plug well gaskets from AutoZone is around $85 or so. Look for valve cover gaskets, the kit comes with the VC gaskets & six plug well seals.

I ordered my shims & shim adjustment tools from SHO NUT Performance . With 56 new shims & all three tools, the total came to around $280.
Also, you'll want to pick up Mark N.'s 60k video. It will help clear up any questions you may have on the valve adjustment operation.

Grab a few (five?) cans of intake/carb cleaner to clean out your intake while you have it off. Maybe acouple old tooth-brushes, too.

I'm sure there's something I've missed, but that's the majority of what you'll need.

 

[ncsu brandon]

the faq on shotimes says that i only need the tappet compressor and the holder, but the chilton's that i have says i also need the o-ring tool, was this just an omission from the FAQ or is it not needed for the lash adjustment?

 

[HopefulSHO]

I didnt' use an O-ring tool (?) But I did get the pick tool, along with the tappet compressor & holder tools. Although you can probably use a pair of needle-nose pliers (I used them along with the pick tool), it helps to get the shims out of the bucket.

 

[jelloslug]

That o-ring tool was for getting the shims out. There is a notch in the side of the bucket so you can get somthing under the shim and pop it out. I used a tiny screwdriver.

 

[ncsu brandon]

are you talking about the feeler gauge for the pick tool, or if not what exactly do you mean by the pick tool?

<edited>

oh ok i got ya

<small>[ June 27, 2003, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: ncsu brandon ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

Use a mechanic's stethoscope to locate (if possible) the source of the noise.

From listening, I don't think that noise is from the cams/shims.

My suspicion would be crank/timing gear play, rod bearings, or cam chain tensioners. There is a very definite "hard" knock going on in there.

Steve

 

[sdpatt]

Remove the oil fill cap from the front valve cover and find out if the noise is more apparent. It sounds like a 1/2 crank speed noise and might be indicative of a cam lobe(s) or shim(s) in bad shape. You won't know until you look under the valve covers. Those need to be removed to replace the valve cover and plug well seals. That Fel-Pro VS50378R set is available through AutoZone.com for $71.99 (for a '91 SHO).