Hi everyone,

My 1960 225 /6 makes a prominent "ticking" noise when I accelerate or start hill climbs. The previous owner said that this was typical and I put it down to spark/distributor noises, but I am beginning to wonder if the engine is knocking/pinging?
It does not appear to affect performance too much, though the engine once missed a fire whilst doing this.
The engine was professionally rebuilt in 1994 and converted to run on unleaded fuel.
Am I just being paranoid or could this be knocking/pinging?

Thanks alot,
Conor

could be...

does the sound "rings" a little, like a muted bell? happens at all throttle positions or just if you WOT it? Have you tried disconnecting the vac pod?

maybe it just ticks under load, I had an engine that did that. Does it overheats when you WOT it and does this sound?

_________________
Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

Hello,

The best way I can think of describing the sound is like hitting a small piece of tin foil with a piece of wire.
The temperature does tend to rise a little if I am on a longish climb at reasonably high speed (60ish).
I have not disconnected the vac yet, I don't want to do the test till I have my new fuel pump and new oil in (Amazing, ordered the pump wednesday night from RockAuto and it was here in the UK friday morning, all for the price of ten beers!).

Thanks alot,
Conor

In answer to throttle positions, it does happen more at more open throttle settings, but I don't think it is at just WOT.

It could be "pinging", or it could be a small exhaust leak. You could try retarding the timing about 5 degrees, and see if there is any change in the sound. If it goes away, it is pinging. If it is still there, might be the exhaust leak, from a gasket or a crack in the manifold.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

rhythmical or random? *pfffft**pfffft**pfffft**pfffft* and so on may be an exhaust leak *ringllll**ringl**ringglglglgglglg**ringly-a-doo* is pinging.

when backing up timing, do it a little at a time because 5BTDC or more does have an effect on exhaust sound and might fool you.

also, yoiu can check on your mech advance springs... maybe one's loose or broken and it's overadvancing when accelerating past certain RPM range.

_________________
Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

I recommend you buy the three books described in this thread. They will greatly accelerate your knowledge and understanding of American car engineering and construction in general, and all the mechanical details of your car in particular. The other responses to your query cover the two most likely possibilities (pinking and/or blowing exhaust manifold gasket). If you require a replacement manifold gasket set, it is very much worth your while to get the good gaskets for the manifolds-to-head and intake-to-exhaust junctions.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

May I suggest you look carefully at the exhaust manifold for cracks - I had the same experience, and when I took off the exhaust manifold it fell cleanly into two pieces (think it broke between cylinders 2 & 3). Considering it had cracked all the way through, I was surprised it didn't sound louder than a noticable ticking.