I have a ticking noise coming from my car. It sounds like an exhaust ticking, im pretty sure its not anythinginternal like valves. Maybea gasket or a bolt, or a small hole. Is it hard to get to all the exhaust manifold bolts on these cars? How much work am I lookin at to replace a gasket? I plan on getting headers soon so if I do need to replace the gasket, should I wait the extra month or 2 till I have enough cash for the headers and do it all at the same time.

 

Its A BOMB!!!

 

You may not have manifold gaskets in there now. Some times they were never put in. You could also have a cracked manifold. If you are going to do headers just tackle it all at once. You may also end up breaking a bolt or two or three or.... well you get it.

 

when you take them out. SOAK them with penetrateing oil. several times even

 

With regards to ensuring a simple repair when replacing manifolds, to ensure the bolts come out of the heads without breaking off, use this trick. Go to a local hardware store and purchase a block of parafin wax. Then drive the car home and get it good and hot. This will expand the holes in the manifold the bolts go through. Then take your bar of parafin wax and simply place it on the bolts, one at a time obviously. As the wax melts it becomes very thin and it will actually soak its way up the threads and lubricate the bolt while still in its hole. Then gently turn them out.

 

Make sure of where it's coming from, and why. Does the ticking get louder with the RPMs, and go faster with them too? You really wanna be sure if it is or isn't inside the motor. Take a stick or long rod of wood or something, and put in on the valve covers and then place it to your ears. You should be able to hear pretty well if it's internal. Move it around on different parts of the motor to be sure as well.