<VV> Loudly Ticking Engine--Possible Causes

[J R Read_HML]

Loud is subjective.

Ticking is obvious.

Most likely cause - lifter needs to be pumped up - drive the car.

2nd? most likely - probably a little louder than a lifter - if first choice 
does not "fix" it - worn valve guide.  Will eventually need repair, but can 
probably wait for some time when the head has to come off for other reasons.

3rd? most likely - also probably the loudest - rocker arm is about to fail. 
Easy fix.  Listen for which side and pull the cover - may or may not need a 
new gasket depending on type and how careful you are.  If running on 5 
cylinders, it has already broken.

4th?  Corrections?  Additions?  I'll listen to what others have to say on 
this.

In the case at hand, the car had not been started in a week.  First thought 
on that scenario is - lifter.

Later, JR
CCE CORVANANTICS CORSA SCG member
'61 Rampside Standard 4/110
'65 Monza Convertible 4/140

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mike hicks" <mhicks130 at cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:32 PM
Subject: <VV> Loudly Ticking Engine--Possible Causes?


>>>My 1965 110 hp Monza started ticking very loud the other day.
>
> My 65 110 started ticking on the way to Detroit last year.  When I got 
> there, everyone who listened to it thought it was lifters.  I ran Marvel 
> Mystery Oil in it as suggested and the ticking persisted.  It turned out 
> to be a worn valve guide.  The valve could be moved sideways by hand.  I 
> sapped out the head (re-using the lifters) and no more tapping.  Yours may 
> be a stuck lifter or something else though.
>