Ticking in time with spark?HELP!?!

[Jon01]

New noise as of last night, pretty loud, but not a deep sound, it is in time with spark, and pulling a plug wire does not affect it.
We thinking lifter or bottom end problem?
In my experience(which is very minimal), if you pull the plug wire, removing the load from the bearing, if it's hammering, it will quiet down some, but I did that all the way around and nothing changed. Still the same volume and frequency.
I did not find any metal in the oil when I pulled the dipstick either.
Could it be a collapsed lifter? I can't remember which way the rule went-at same speed as spark=valvetrain noise, or bottom end.
Praying it's just a stuck lifter...
Any input guys?
Thanks,
Jon

 

[Jon01]

Pretty sure it's not a plug wire arcing, I pulled each one, one at a time off of the coilpack and the noise did not change.
Thanks for the input!
Jon

 

[salvageV6]

Exhaust leak or really noisy fuel injector.

 

[Jon01]

Don't think it's an exhaust leak, driving it doesn't change the noise at all, just speeds up with rpm, the fuel injector is something I'll keep in mind...the 50's should be here w/in a week, so that should eliminate that.
You're thinking it's not in the bottom end? Or???
Thanks for the help guys!!
Anyone else with an opinion, please chime in!
Jon

 

[YGETV8]

A few other sources of "ticking" can be the cam sensor cup hitting the plastic top inside, a bolt from the AC bracket came loose and hitting as the pulleys spin, or loose torque converter bolts. Use the old "dowel rod stethoscope" trick and listen to the top of the cam sensor and/or various points on the motor to help isolate it.

 

[Jon01]

UPDATE:

Changed the oil, I think that helped some, it's not nearly as loud.
Idling in gear, the noise all but goes away, idling in neutral, it's back, but quieter.
I tried listening around like you mentioned Jay, but all I've got is a rather short screwdriver(I'm away from home at school).
Oil pressure is good, 20 psi hot in gear, jumps right up to 60+ driving.
I had to drive it about 50 miles home from the track last night after I noticed the noise(I didn't run it, hell, I didn't even get on it yesterday!), and the oil pressure was down a little from normal-about 50 psi going 55 mph. Speeding up did get it to rise, but not much.
Does anyone have any input? All suggestions are VERY much appreciated!
Thanks guys!
Jon

 

[TurboDave]

I have found, over the last 15 years that there are certain types of header cracks, and one particular kind of crack in the crossover pipe that will definately cause the kind of ticking noise you describe. The crack in my crossover made a fairly loud ticking (sounded more like a lifter), and it didn't come or go with rpm, just went up and down with rpm as you describe. You might want to take a REAL CLOSE look at your headers, and crossover (especially up close to the clamp area). I actually had to pull my crossover off to find it, it was so far up under the clamp right at the flair.

 

[steve hughes]

You might want to check the end play on your crankshaft. Thrust could be going away. If you noticed your oil pressure lower than normal and changing oil changed the noise it probably isn't exhaust.

 

[zam70]

I've been chasing a similar noise for almost a year and FINALLY solved it.

I'd done the usual, even replaced rockers and springs and nothing would change it......

Finally, a couple of days ago, I opened up my dump to find NO GASKET (I had never opened it before). Put a gasket on...TICK GONE! Who'da thought.

 

[Turbo__Tim]

Lol's (above post) Ticking noises are commom. The cam sensor area is a good place to check (as mentioned already).

It is not the lower engine, or main bearings, as you feared. Oil pressure would be like, 10 psi running.

Relax and do your homework!

 

[Jon01]

Ok, you guys are starting to make me feel a little better now...
Cold oil pressure is 80+ psi, with 15w40 oil, the temp outside is around 80*..
I have driven the car about 50 miles(cruising ~70) since the noise started, and no real change in pressure readings so far. Pressure at speed is around 60. I'm starting to think from what you have posted and driving it that distance that if it was a bottom end issue it would be much worse by now...
Time will tell I guess.
Thanks for all the responses though guys!
Jon