The Ford Barn

cappy1 · 11-21-2015, 08:21 PM

Just had my 53 flathead completely rebuilt,merc.4" crank,isky 3/4 cam,.40 over bore all new pistons rings bearings gaskets.I overheated it,had the heads shaved,had dual exhaust installed,have developed loud tapping or ticking noise,not certain where it comes from,think it is from lifter but just not sure. Any ideas what this may be would be helpful.
On another note engine sounds like it needs 1 more gear,running in 3rd rpm sounds high,would like to pick up 3 speed w/ od if you have one for sale I would be interested. thanks for reasding this post, cappy1

deuce_roadster · 11-21-2015, 09:17 PM

Did it start the noise after you shaved the heads? That may be your answer.

Brooks · 11-21-2015, 09:18 PM

Sound like you have a piston hitting head. Can you tell which side is pedding? I had this problem on a '40 it was piston hitting the head remove some metal from head with die grinder. You can remove heads ,you will see where it is hitting.

petehoovie · 11-21-2015, 09:19 PM

Tapping sound? Could be a broken valve spring....

Lawson Cox · 11-21-2015, 09:39 PM

get a mechanics stethoscope (or medium size dowel or stick) and hold one end to your ear and the other to the engine (Various places) and see if you can come a little closer to pin pointing the sound.

RalphG · 11-21-2015, 10:32 PM

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I remember my brother having a similar problem on the 52 Merc after rebuilding the engine. One of the new pistons was wrong, just a fraction higher than the rest and it was contacting the head. Lucky no serious damage was done before he noticed it. I can't remember what it sounded like though.

Mike in AZ · 11-21-2015, 10:36 PM

welcome to the 'Barn....got pics??....lol....we love pics....Mike

Ardun · 11-21-2015, 11:25 PM

Try a stethoscope or broom handle to your ear to locate where the sound is coming from. Put an OD trans in my '53 (has a 3.90 rearend) and it made huge improvement. Too bad you are not close to me as I would sell you my OD trans which is in great shape. Took it out last week to put in an AOD. Unfortunately am not into building a shipping case so will try to sell locally. I put in a 12 volt Studebaker solenoid since I converted all to 12 volt.

11-21-2015, 08:21 PM	#1
cappy1 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: split time / florida/ma. Posts: 3	loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Just had my 53 flathead completely rebuilt,merc.4" crank,isky 3/4 cam,.40 over bore all new pistons rings bearings gaskets.I overheated it,had the heads shaved,had dual exhaust installed,have developed loud tapping or ticking noise,not certain where it comes from,think it is from lifter but just not sure. Any ideas what this may be would be helpful. On another note engine sounds like it needs 1 more gear,running in 3rd rpm sounds high,would like to pick up 3 speed w/ od if you have one for sale I would be interested. thanks for reasding this post, cappy1

11-21-2015, 09:17 PM	#2
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Did it start the noise after you shaved the heads? That may be your answer.

11-21-2015, 09:18 PM	#3
Brooks Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: AL Posts: 115	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Sound like you have a piston hitting head. Can you tell which side is pedding? I had this problem on a '40 it was piston hitting the head remove some metal from head with die grinder. You can remove heads ,you will see where it is hitting. __________________ '40Garage

11-21-2015, 09:19 PM	#4
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,166	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Tapping sound? Could be a broken valve spring.... __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

11-21-2015, 09:39 PM	#5
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? get a mechanics stethoscope (or medium size dowel or stick) and hold one end to your ear and the other to the engine (Various places) and see if you can come a little closer to pin pointing the sound. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

11-21-2015, 10:32 PM	#6
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,424	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I remember my brother having a similar problem on the 52 Merc after rebuilding the engine. One of the new pistons was wrong, just a fraction higher than the rest and it was contacting the head. Lucky no serious damage was done before he noticed it. I can't remember what it sounded like though. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

11-21-2015, 10:36 PM	#7
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? welcome to the 'Barn....got pics??....lol....we love pics....Mike

11-21-2015, 11:25 PM	#8
Ardun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Reno Posts: 171	Re: loud ticking sound?tapping sound? Try a stethoscope or broom handle to your ear to locate where the sound is coming from. Put an OD trans in my '53 (has a 3.90 rearend) and it made huge improvement. Too bad you are not close to me as I would sell you my OD trans which is in great shape. Took it out last week to put in an AOD. Unfortunately am not into building a shipping case so will try to sell locally. I put in a 12 volt Studebaker solenoid since I converted all to 12 volt.