The Ford Barn

Randy · 03-13-2011, 11:17 AM

My 59AB has a tapping noise that sounds like a bad hydraulic lifter but obviously they're not hydraulic. It started out just doing it every now and then on cold startup, but has progressed to doing it more often than not. It only taps at idle, anything above idle and it goes away. Sitting at idle, the noise comes and goes, doesn't seem to matter if the engine is hot or cold.

It sounds to me like a definite mechanical tap, but I would think any unwanted clearance somewhere would get worse as the rpm's get higher.

It sounds like it's on the RH side, I pulled each plug wire off one at a time and it didn't make any difference. I heard that was a way to check for a bad wrist pin.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Randy

03-13-2011, 11:17 AM	#1
Randy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin Posts: 696	Mystery flathead tapping noise, suggestions? My 59AB has a tapping noise that sounds like a bad hydraulic lifter but obviously they're not hydraulic. It started out just doing it every now and then on cold startup, but has progressed to doing it more often than not. It only taps at idle, anything above idle and it goes away. Sitting at idle, the noise comes and goes, doesn't seem to matter if the engine is hot or cold. It sounds to me like a definite mechanical tap, but I would think any unwanted clearance somewhere would get worse as the rpm's get higher. It sounds like it's on the RH side, I pulled each plug wire off one at a time and it didn't make any difference. I heard that was a way to check for a bad wrist pin. Any ideas? Thanks, Randy