I can't seem to find my tic from my 440 motor with TTI headers. I've pulled the header and used a couple really hi dollar gaskets and have had the valve covers off several times. I can't seem to get rid of a tic. I wonder if the headers are leaking where the four pipes go into the collector. How can I find the ticking sound??

To find a header leak, Pull a plug wire off one at a time and run it.

most likly its a leak,as I have chased a "lifter tick" with all my headers

my brand new headmans leak where the 4 tubes meet at the collector right from the get go

I used the copper rtv on the header gaskets,and let cure over night,that has fixed most of them

the new headers have a ball/cone set up down below so no gasket there now,that was the one that would go every time it rained for me

and nothing is worse than brand new high dollor headers and gaskets that leak

take a 2-3 foot piece of water hose and use it to listen around the tubes and header flange

also pull your vc and use the wood handle of it to push against the rockers as it runs,this will let you know which one is ticking,it will quit ticking with you pushig against it

do you hear it in the car only?

can you hear it under the hood while running?

most time I can only hear it in the car,never out side the car and under the hood

good luck

A header leak will make noise only when your foot is on the gas. A valve tick will be RPM dependent and won't be affected by letting off on the gas.

This is easy. To find an exhaust leak, take a piece of hose, say, 3/8 fuel hose, and hold near your ear CAREFULLY. Search around and if it's an exhaust leak it will "blow in your ear"!!!!

The chunk of hose trick does work well.

there is a mechanics stethoscope for stereo, ya know

Couple other tricks that help pinpoint a hard to locate exhaust tick.. Have someone plug the tailpipe with rags.. It increases the pressure making an exhuast leak more noticable... If you need more pull a little ATF down the carb, the smoke in the exhuast gives a visual indication of your leak...

Great advise from everyone, tonight or tommorrow night I 'm gonna check it out again with my new homemade stethoscope. It's only mono though.

Maybe I need to hookup with a nurse?

I hope she looks like Miss Goodbody from heehaww

BR-549

As long as she doesn't look like LULU!

I was going through this recently... looked for stethoscopes on eBay and found them for like $4, bought two just in case. When it got here, I took off the "drum" part and stuck in about a 2-foot length of metal brake line. Amazing how you can put the tip of that thing around the engine and hear all kinds of things that you never knew were there!

Darren

A small squirt of Oil or Tranny fluid in the carb will show you where is. Also the plug wire off one at a time will as well.

Herb Jr

or mimi

Never tried this but how about removing the rocker shafts to close all the exhaust valve or seal the top of the carb.

Then plumb air or vacuum from the shop vac in the exhaust pipe.

and thanks for the update on the cause and fix

makes me want to pull mine off and have a looky seee

I only got cheap headmans for 190$...but they should at least not leak at the welds right where the 4 go into the collector

it is depressing to get nice new stuff and its got issues from the git go

made me feel bumed out with mine also

I think the crack got bigger as the header was used/heated up. Because it got worse everytime I started the car it seemed.

I'd consider that a manufacturing defect. Any warranty left?