New used head ticking.

[woodisgood]

Just finished up a head-gasket job where I used a different head that came from a donor motor. I tested the head as best I could for flatness and made sure all the valves sealed tightly before install. I cleaned it up really well and inspected all the rockers and springs as well as the cam for damage and wear.

The car fired right up when I was finished but there is a ticking sound coming from the valvetrain, not the normal ticking. I tried to isolate it with a stethoscope by pulling plug wires one at a time...nothing. I triple checked the timing and it is right on. I did a compression check and all is well.

Tomorrow I am going to do a vacuum test and re-check the valve adjustment.

What else should I check?

[blueapplesoda]

Try to isolate the location of the noise. I once left my oil cap off for a short period of time and thought enough oil splashed out to cause engine problems just to find out that coincidentally my alternator bearing went bad making a rod knock like sound.

Pop the valve cover and check to see if there is anything is making contact while rotating the engine around. The oil bar sometimes get bent and hits stuff...

[woodisgood]

Thanks, I will check the tube for sure.

[Ceeker]

Just finished up a head-gasket job where I used a different head that came from a donor motor. I tested the head as best I could for flatness and made sure all the valves sealed tightly before install. I cleaned it up really well and inspected all the rockers and springs as well as the cam for damage and wear.

The car fired right up when I was finished but there is a ticking sound coming from the valvetrain, not the normal ticking. I tried to isolate it with a stethoscope by pulling plug wires one at a time...nothing. I triple checked the timing and it is right on. I did a compression check and all is well.

Tomorrow I am going to do a vacuum test and re-check the valve adjustment.

What else should I check?

what else? check the valve adjustment..LOL.

did you do the adjustment from #6 overlap?
if 6 lobe is up adjust #1 then turn motor to #5 up and adjust #2.
once you're finished #3 valve adjustment then put #3 lobe up and adjust #4. 2 up adjust 5 and 1 up adjust 6.

that is the way I did mine.

you should have a bit of drag on the feeler gauge before tightening.