ticking noise, oil pressure messed up

[chaosripper]

ive had this problem ever since saturday, and i thought that i would ask you guys on here. im plannin on taking it somewhere tomorrow but just wanted to hear what you guys think.

also if you know of a good shop in the tidewater area to have it looked at, please let me know.


so for the past few days ive noticed that my oil pressure gauge has not been reading like it usually does. when i start up the car it will act normal and drop down once the car is warmed up.

before the gauge would read very smoothly, but now it is very bouncy. it still idles fine, but when i start to accelerate it will bounce around from 20 to 40 and the needle is not smooth like it used to be. on the interstate, while keeping a constant speed, it is also moves from like 40-45.

there are no oil leaks or anything, and the car still runs fine. so i was thinking that the gauge might be messed up but i just havnt gotten a chance to check it out.

the other day, i was driving my car and got on it a little in 3rd on the interstate, and then i had this loud ticking noise coming from the engine. no smoke or anything just a loud noise. the noise would get faster as the rpms went up and get slower when they went down.

so, i pulled over at advanced auto and popped the hood, and the sound was coming from the rear of the passenger head. after a few mins of looking at it and asking some friends, i shut the car off for about 10 mins. when i turned the car back on the noise was gone. it hasnt come on since then, but it is just something that i am concerned with. my gauge is still reading really funky but the car is driving fine now.

does anyone have any ideas as to what this noise is, and if it is related to the oil pressure?

my friend who was with me said that it sounded like a lifter was stuck up or something. i think i might as well take the valve cover off tomorrow and see if i can notice anything that is problematic.

also, is there anyone around here that would like to help me tune my carburetor? when i floor the car it slightly hesitates and my friend said it was most likely because of the secondary dumping to much fuel in the car.

also this is a 383 motor



sunday, the car was driving fine and had no ticking noise what so ever. so i decided to repeat what i did the other day. i floored the car through second, and the ticking noise came back.

so the ticking noise is being brought on when i floor the car.

my friend said that it could be excessive lash in the valves and that it is common with a big cam.

he said it not a hard fix and that he would help me out next weekend, but i still wanna hear what you guys think.




today, the power in the car was very sluggish. it felt like the car only had like 100 hp, and nothing like a healthy 383. the car still runs fine under normal driving conditions but just feels incredible weak when its floored. it starts to gain a little more power in higher rpms, but i dont want to push it to much in this condition.

after telling my friend this, he said that it sounds like worn out valve springs. he said that this would be the case of the ticking noise and loss of power.

what do you guys think about it now after hearing this?



thanks,
matt

[Jazz]

I've got meetings all day Wednesday and Thursday. Anyone else can lend a hand here?

[socalmach]

Does it sound anything like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN5hQyi-T6s

Have you changed oil brands or viscosity lately?

[Keminkdj]

I went to Art Walker in VA Beach, they did good work.

[Jazz]

I gave this some thought. Might be a sticking or lifter. Sea Foam the engine or use some other lifter "cure" and it might release. If you have a dead lifter that cylinder won't really be firing well which will result in a pretty noticeable power loss. It also won't want to rev.

[socalmach]

Seafoam wouldn't hurt trying.
but, if it was a sticking or dead lifter there should be a slight misfire.

Install an aftermarket oil pressure gauge. $60 at Advance (just did mine) it'll rule out an oiling problem.

Pull valve covers to check the springs. Maybe ones broken and allowing play.

They're fairly quick and easy. Post up if and when you need some help.

[Firesilverlullaby]

yeah his oil pressure also drops when he accelerates from a stop sometimes, but not sure how accurate the guage is he has. its mechanical

I think he went to get his car checked out today, hopefully he found something out. Seafoam would be a good thing to do though.

[chaosripper]

well i took it to a shop today, and the guy i talked to is a mopar guy. he said that it sounds like valvetrain noise and probably a spring or a lifter getting stuck. im going to take the car in tomorrow to drop it off. he was saying if its a lifter then the cylinder would not be firing and i would have much less power.

i was pretty relieved to hear that he didnt seem too concerned about it, like not telling me to drive it or anything

hopefully its something small.

[chaosripper]

also it kinda sounds like that video but not really. its much louder

[Firesilverlullaby]

sounds just like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1HmIueRTQA

[socalmach]

I can't watch youtube at work so, I'll have to watch it this afternoon.

Also, if you have a way to tap into the stock sending unit for the oil pressure gauge I have a spare gauge you could use.

[novajoe]

Sounds like a bad lifter too me. the lifter can also cause a drop in oil presure reading if it fails.

[Jazz]

Now I'm down on power and also have a little "tick" but I KNOW its rod bearing knock in my case. If its a slight "knock" yours could be the same - hard to tell without hearing it though. If it is a bearing you want to get to it before it gets too bad though.

[The_rabbit1]

i blew a head gasket and water got in the lifters after rebuilding it the lifters ticked for awhile till the oil worked its way in there, but my engine was missing pretty bad for a little.
try pulling the valve covers and make sure all the pushrods are squirting a decent amount of oil