So at the end of last year before I put the car away I had a light tapping or ticking...Then i blew what i thought was a header gasket so i put the car away for the winter. This spring i replaced the header gaskets, along with upper intake (RJC Plate) and valve covers along with the turbo and the complete spring cleaning. Fired the car up and find out its actually a head gasket blown into the engine compartment. So i tear the car down replace the head gaskets and all the intake gaskets, valve covers again. Now up to 2 oil changes in 9 days. Fire it up last night and the ticking is still there. Took it for a ride and it would seem to disappear when the oil pressure would build up. then once warm if you let it idle for a little bit the ticking/knocking would come back. rev it up and it would go away again. i thought it was a lifter not pumping up. Oil pressure is 20-25 psi at idle and 45-60 psi when cruising. I took it out this morning and gave a rip through second gear at about 18 psi and it felt great! no knock. I let out of it a slowed down then all of a sudden the scanmaster started registering knock retard into the upper teens and the knocking was louder. It also seems to be idling like it lost a cylinder. I pulled each plug wire with the car running and there is no change in sound. Im assuming it is a collapsed lifter. the brand new castrol 10w30 and zddp that i put in last night is still perfectly clean. The car starts and idles and the oil pressure still remains the same. There is definitely a cylinder not firing correctly. Is it possible that this sound is actually coming from my timing chain and the cylinder down is actually a tooth skipped? I am at a loss for words. After dumping well over a grand into this car in the last 3 weeks i am not sure where to look next. i have contemplated rod bearings and new lifters. maybe timing set. Any suggestions? I can supply more info if needed. I just cant afford to keep throwing money into this thing at random.thanks in advance!
