Strange SBC 350 Ticking Noise Solved

[@johngarcon87]

I can't thank you enough for making this video. I got my truck transmission rebuilt, a 700R4, and the guy that rebuilt it told me that my cam ate a lifter when he put everything back together and that I would need to totally rebuild the engine. Then he offered to do an LS swap for $9,000. I searched around online about lifter failure and the sounds it makes, and ran across this video. Your video sounded EXACTLY like mine so it gave me hope. After id checked the rockers, and oil, i shut it off and checked the distributor cap. Sure enough it was tilted, snapped it back on and its been smooth sailing. Thank you so much! God Bless from Texas.

[@CarGuyV8]

I’m glad I could help and save you money!

[@NJRangerGeorge]

On vehicles things happen and we learn from them. Thats how you become better mechanics.

[@NJRangerGeorge]

You should do more car repair videos. Some like to learn. Glad you found the problem with your truck. Good luck on your projects.

[@CarGuyV8]

Yes I think I should start doing that

[@heliarche]

I'm just finishing up an engine swap. While moving my donor engine around I managed to smack the cap pretty good but I didn't think much of it because there was no visible damage. It now sounds just like lifter tap. I'm going to check this out. Thanks for the vid!

[@CarGuyV8]

Hopefully your problem is simple.

[@heliarche]

I just went out and shoved the cap around some. I felt like it settled down into place. I pulled the cap and I could see what looked like some tiny strike marks. Where yours was broken out, something was just touching on mine. One place had what looked like some brass. I think that might have rubbed off from the rotor. I still have a little ways to go before I can fire it up and know for sure but I really think you've saved me a ton of heartache.

[@CarGuyV8]

@@heliarche glad to hear it!

[@Skipp4TIMEZ]

@@heliarcheI JUST pulled my cap a couple of hours ago. Saw those same exact marks that you’re talking about. I set everything in correctly. I’m about to plug up my wires and fire up and see what happens.

[@heliarche]

@@Skipp4TIMEZHopefully it's the same thing. I was scared for a bit that I screwed something up or something went to crap. Once I reset the cap and the noise was gone it was a great feeling!

[@racioppaaa3417]

Great video immediately helped me find the my same exact issue after a 700r4 swap.

[@CarGuyV8]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching.

[@RIDEOFALIFETIME1]

is the only fix replacing the distributor? or can it be readjusted/bent back somehow? thanks for the video, saves alota troubleshooting

[@CarGuyV8]

You could get by with just replacing the cap and rotor. That’s all I did. I’ve put thousands of miles on this distributor base since then.

[@kingfox2673]

I have a question was your engine engine shaken really bad

[@CarGuyV8]

No more than usual with the cam I was running.

[@Skipp4TIMEZ]

Yo brother! If you still respond, did that ticking slow and get slightly quieter down when you went into reverse or drive?

[@CarGuyV8]

Probably a little because the rpm would drop in gear. Been a long time since this though.

[@Skipp4TIMEZ]

@@CarGuyV8 Most definitely. I appreciate the quick response though 💯 I’m going to check my cap tomorrow and see what’s up.

[@Skipp4TIMEZ]

@@CarGuyV8UPDATE: I just pulled the cap off. Inside of the cap, those pins have scratches on all 8 of them. The scratches are in the same exact area on all of the pins. I’m going to reinstall it gently and see what happens. Lol. Wish me luck!

[@timmyharden4304]

Thank you i had to change torque converter in my 85 c10 and I done the same thing tilted engine back to get 2 bolts and it raised hell after i did not think of that all is OK now thanks my friend Noone knows all but we learn from each other

[@CarGuyV8]

Glad my video could help!

[@bonchicodavis1444]

I’m wondering if this is what’s wrong with the 406 in my Monte? Definitely need to give it a look

[@CarGuyV8]

Hopefully it’s a simple fix like this was

[@dannylinc6247]

Yes indeed, if you were the type to follow the steps in the service manual, it reminds you to take the cap loose before taking the trans loose and letting the engine angle fall back. Who reads them dang things, anyway.

[@jimketchum3169]

Anyone ever hear an occasional "snapping" sound at low RPM in a SBC, mostly in gear? Thought it was a sloppy timing chain hitting the timing chain cover, but just tore it down, new cam, new Cloyes double roller, new dizzy, and it's still doing it, worse than ever. Very erratic. What's really weird is that it's a higher pitch snap now.

[@CarGuyV8]

This is just a guess, plug your vacuum advance and see if still does it.

[@jimketchum3169]

@@CarGuyV8 Well, if I run it at 1,200 rpm in idle so it runs 900 rpm in drive, it doesn't do it. It's cold-blooded and erratic occasionally because it's an old Holley 4V that came from a junkyard (I'm poor af) sometimes it still does it if it dips below 800rpm. Never seen this in all my years. I'll try that though, thanks!

[@CarGuyV8]

@@jimketchum3169 does it have a lumpy cam? I’ve noticed sometimes when cold and running rough(I don’t run a choke on mine) the rockers are a little noisy when idling erratically at low rpms. Goes away the second it’s idling at a reasonable rpm.

[@jimketchum3169]

@@CarGuyV8 Yeah, just put a new cam in, beefy. Lost the last cam cuz I didn't know the oil nowadays don't have the zinc it needs. It made the racket with that cam too. Definitely not a rocker. It really sounds just like if you took a 1/2 wrench and smacked the timing chain cover hard.

[@CarGuyV8]

@@jimketchum3169 is your fuel filter banging on a valve cover?

[@Hvac11bravo]

Was the noise loud under the truck as well?

[@CarGuyV8]

I could hear it from any location around the truck

[@Hvac11bravo]

Just found out that the knock and tick is my converter

[@CarGuyV8]

@@Hvac11bravo backed out bolts?

[@Hvac11bravo]

No my transmission guy said most likely the vanes inside are broke

[@CarGuyV8]

@@Hvac11bravo sorry man. That sucks

[@carlbjorklund2250]

My ‘78 350 makes the same noise. I crawled all over the damn thing with a stethoscope and couldn’t hear a thing!! I thought if it was a lifter it would be loud and clear coming through the valve cover with a stethoscope. But perfectly silent.

[@CarGuyV8]

Let me know if you figure it out. Could even be a tc bolt backing out

[@jamesgadd931]

Thanks for that advice

[@Sc0teeBe318]

I've got a strange ticking on my TBI 350. At first it was on the passenger side. Sounded like a manifold leak to me. I saw some spots that were suspect and one that was definitely leaking. I patched those with some high temp RTV. No more ticking on that side but now it's ticking on the driver side. It wasn't ticking there before. I didn't feel or see any signs of an exhaust leak but I put some RTV around that manifold too. Still ticks. Could it still be an exhaust leak or do I have something going on with my lifters maybe? It sounds like it's coming from the driver side front of the engine. I only hear it when I rev the engine up. At idle I don't hear it.

[@CarGuyV8]

Hmmm. First thing I’d do is pull that valve cover and check the rockers.

[@jeffnunley1861]

What cam u running

[@shootermcgavin2819]

He is running a Comp extreme energy hydraulic roller camshaft. 282° of duration.

[@sobercompanionnyc-losangeles]

My 99 Jeep Cherokee Sport has a similar ticking noise,,gotta figure out whats causing it.

[@CarGuyV8]

Hmm the mechanics stethoscope really helps with that.

[@joseluislatino8426]

I need those red seats

[@asderocher]

Sounds just like my project, just a little more intermittent almost like a rap beat

[@CarGuyV8]

I hope you get it figured out.

[@toronjillo2]

Hello i wanna do an engine swap how much was ur built engine and trans

[@CarGuyV8]

I’ve got about $5,500 in both

[@toronjillo2]

@@CarGuyV8 not that bad 🤙 thanks

[@toronjillo2]

@@CarGuyV8 another question boss what can cause a slow starter? Like it turns then stops then goes could it be s bar ground or needs new starter.. ill change battery soon just curious thoo..

[@CarGuyV8]

@@toronjillo2 weak battery, bad ground, not enough grounds, weak solenoid connection, or a weak starter.

[@toronjillo2]

@@CarGuyV8 cool