the 85 has a small knock - top end???

[86VickyLX]

While it's out replace it. That's my motto.

[OVERKILL]

No, but I'm not everyone. What may be fine to me is not neccesarily fine to everyone else. My engine block was pronounced fine, but the cylinders are egg shaped. The crank was pronounced fine, but it was at the extreme outer edge of tolerance. Whats correct and ideal is a fair bit off from what will get the job done. A 20 year old flat tappet cam will probably still function but I would not quite call it ideal.

You had "Chevy" bores? WEIRD!!!!!

[Archangel]

You had "Chevy" bores? WEIRD!!!!!

Piston slap time! Don't even mention that man, it's evil, every time I hear about it I feel some chills running down my spine - brrr

[gadget73]

Yeah, it did have some slight odd noises that I blamed on the barely in tolerance crankshafty. Apparently not the case. My S10 has similar noises, probably the same problem. It runs fine, so I dont care.

[1987cp]

Piston slap time!

Uh ... yeah, literally!

[Fordman75]

A ticking sound can also be caused by a cracked exhaust manifold/header. I've had a few 302's/351W's that had what sounded like a valvetrain or lifter ticking but was actually just a cracked exhaust manifold. It doesn't take a very big crack to make the ticking sound.

[85crownHPP]

got the noise on video now.... it sounds worse in person, and you can hear it inside the car in person...

[87_crown_vic]

you need a stethoscope to check for the noise. a parts store carries them for $5-$10. i would use that and pinpoint your problem. the 1990 i used to have would tick when i would floor it and sounded like a machine gun. i bought STP thickener and motor honey. did 3 oil changes in 3 weeks and it was almost gone. it rarely ticked except when it chose to which made me belive a bad lifter. didnt matter since the car was a tempory ride while mine was in the shop.

[gadget73]

too fast and high pitched to be a bottom end noise. Sounds like valvetrain noise if I had to guess. Pull the valve covers and check the preload on the lifters, or just rotate the engine through like you're checking it properly, and grab the rockers to see if any of them are slack when they shouldn't be. I'd be guessing either a collapsed lifter, bent pushrod, or a rocker arm bolt backing itself out.

[Nathan in MI]

Yep, sounds like lifters to me. Ever heard one where all sixteen were clattering constantly? Hehehe

[85crownHPP]

too fast and high pitched to be a bottom end noise. Sounds like valvetrain noise if I had to guess. Pull the valve covers and check the preload on the lifters, or just rotate the engine through like you're checking it properly, and grab the rockers to see if any of them are slack when they shouldn't be. I'd be guessing either a collapsed lifter, bent pushrod, or a rocker arm bolt backing itself out.

HHhmmm... i poked around while changing the valve covers but didnt really know what I was looking for. Where can i find more info on rotating the motor over while checking for preload and improper loosness??

I did the old quart-of-ATF before an oil change trick, no change. Wait... maybe I did that to the 91...
the 91 had made a tapping that went away after a few seconds on the 1st start of the day... this sounds different than that. I dont drive the 85 enough for it to leak a quart between oil changes now...
more things to procrastinate big brakes with

[Nathan in MI]

Another thing...have you checked to see if it's an externally generated noise? I.e., something coming from the accessory drives? That stuff on the front of the engine can make some pretty scary noises now and then, and they'll drive you nuts till you find 'em.

[gabegt90]

Yep, sounds like lifters to me. Ever heard one where all sixteen were clattering constantly? Hehehe

I'm trying to think how would a lifter make that noise

[Nathan in MI]

If it's not pumped up all the way, it creates some lash in the valve train, between the lifter and the pushrod, the pushrod and the rocker, or the rocker and the valve tip...or more likely, a combination thereof. When the two parts touch, they make a little clicking noise.

[gabegt90]

If it's not pumped up all the way, it creates some lash in the valve train, between the lifter and the pushrod, the pushrod and the rocker, or the rocker and the valve tip...or more likely, a combination thereof. When the two parts touch, they make a little clicking noise.

ah I see thanks nate