This is my first post on these forums, they seem pretty helpful so i decided to get some insight for myself.

I got a very light ticking that sounds like it coming from the distributor. I have an 86 SS with the original 5.0 in it, original intake, original heads, original everything. The car has been parked for 6 years in the garage, I have not put plugs or wires in yet. It does not miss, it backfires every now and again but i believe thats because of the oil in the plugs from some leaks.

Could this problem also be a rocker?

Note i have checked the oil, its not dry. Any information / tips would be helpful. Please talk to me like i dont know anything, i dont know enough to know what i dont know.

thanks

 

i would asume you have changed the oil since pulling it out of the garage? i would say pull of your dist cap and give it a good visual once over, if anything looks funn just replace it, unfortunat thing is a ticking can be caused by sooo many different things

(valve, valve spring, rocker, pushrod, exhaust leak, bad lifter, bad cam) i'm sure there is more too i just can't think of what

welcome to the forum BTW

 

Yes ive changed the oil, but its about due for another. Its not cammed up or anything..

It needs to be rebuilt, 180,000+ miles.. Im sure that would fix the problem.

Another thing is that theres a slight... Whine/vibration/IDK what it is. Its hard to explain, sometimes it sounds like a whine, sometimes it sounds like somthing vibrating very very fast. I can tell its uptop the motor, and it only does it in gear. The tranny seems to be alright, could it be the flywheel?

also for kicks anyone know the stock RWHP of a 86 chevy 5.0? Is it 190 on the wheels or from the Flywheel?

 

hmm that is an odd one lol check your airfilter nut just cuz idk... rebuild wouldn't be a bad idea mine ate the cam at 190xxx mi

and cant fing rwhp but found fwhp
180hp@4800 and 225ft/lbs@3200

 

Ive never heard about an "Airlifter nut." explain what that is please...

My proficiency of engines is not too well....

thanks btw

 

on your the top of your airfilter assy... (mine is crome)

 

A good little trick to find out where sounds are coming from is to take something like a peice of fuel line or hose (3 or 4 feet of length) and put one end up to your ear and place the other end around certain parts of the engine. Its like a doctor's stethoscope. You can also use a fairly long screw driver. I wonder if one of your belt driven components or idlers have bad bearings.

 

If I've learned anything restoring cars, it is don't be too quick to judge what a problem it is. It could be any number of things mentioned above. The only way to really get a good idea is buy a mechanics stephiscope and listen for it....

 

LOL sorry, i thought you said "air L ifter nut." The wing nut on top of my breather is secure. Ive tried using 2 long socket wrench extensions connected to listen to my distributor and all rocker arms.. I couldent really hear anything.

Honestly the tick sounds too fast to be a rocker, But then again i dont really know what im talking about..

The tick doesant sound internal.. It should external but ive looked over everthing that could be loose. Could it be an exhaust leak?

 

An exhaust leak would change the tone of the engine and make it louder, not a tick. The only exhaust sound might be two pieces of metal hitting each other.

It was most likely a lifter that wasn't holding oil. Not too big of a deal. I've never heard a distributor tick in my life (But I'm only 20)