Help... Tick, tick,tick,tick....

[NCC1701]

recently my 87 GN developed a slight ticking sound that has slowly gotten worse. I tried to track it down. This ticking is defiantely RPM related. Thought I found it for sure when I pulled my timing cover. I had ithe infamous cam button damage. So I replaced ithe cover along with the oil pump gears. That did help it a little, but it is still there. The ticking sound is loud enough to hear in the car, so I know that it is affecting of the knock detector and affecting boost. I am only getting 10 psi.
It is really noticable at start up, but after the engine warms up, the ticking gets quieter, but you can still hear it. I have already checked for a cracked header and made sure the flywheel bolts were tight.

Any ideas??? Anyone have a similar problem.

 

[turbosam6]

Any scan tool data as far as why you would only be getting 10 psi? i.e., rich, lean, etc. Really sounds like an exhaust leak. Is the oil pressure OK? What was wrong with the cam button? How does the car run otherwise?

 

[sixgun86gn]

Loose rocker shaft maybe.It happened to me after putting in a fresh motor.

 

[NCC1701]

sixgun86gn,
Rockershaft is tight.
turbosam6,
No scantool yet, it seems as soon as I have saved enough to get one, something else always comes up. As far as boost is concerned, I know that the ticking is setting of the knock sensor. it boosted just fine before the ticking started. Other than the ticking and 10 psi of boost, it runs and idles great. The cam button was chewing a hole in the timing cover. I replaced the stock design with the new improved design. I am going to check for an exhaust leak again, just to verify.
Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it

 

[NCC1701]

here's what I found...

The ticking sound is not there at idle. It starts when you give it rpms and it goes away when you go back to idle.
No cracked header or exhaust leak. Sounds like it is coming from the top of the engine.

Any other suggestions???

 

[RealFastV6]

Checked your pushrods?

 

[NCC1701]

RealFastV6,
How do I check my pushrods??? I mean once i open the valve covers, what am I checking the pushrods for??? Are they all supposed to be tight, loose, or somewhere in the middle??

 

[turbosam6]

It could be a flat cam lobe. My car had a flat lobe when I bought it, ran good though, but lots of guys have cams flatten and cause a lot of different symptoms. I pulled my intake and pulled the lifters, and one was dished badly. The lobe was gone. Good luck.