Ticking on a crate 360

[dfrazz]

Hi everyone,
I have a ticking on the right side of a crate 360. It seems to increase and decrease with the throttle. My guess is its a header leak and can be solved with a gasket replacement, but I'm open to advice on what else it could be.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

header gasket is where I would start , get good quality gaskets , Copper or Alum if possible

 

[moparleo]

Just use a stethoscope to verify leak. Take Chryco's advice and use a metal gasket, but also use locking header bolts, like Stage 8. There are others but they cost about the same. Average $50.00 but well worth it. Tighten once and forget.

 

[dfrazz]

header gasket is where I would start , get good quality gaskets , Copper or Alum if possible

Thank you for the advice. Is better than the Fel-Pro gaskets with Copper RTV?

 

[dfrazz]

Just use a stethoscope to verify leak. Take Chryco's advice and use a metal gasket, but also use locking header bolts, like Stage 8. There are others but they cost about the same. Average $50.00 but well worth it. Tighten once and forget.

Thanks, they are on order now. I assume I still need to torque them right?

 

[ramenth]

Thank you for the advice. Is better than the Fel-Pro gaskets with Copper RTV?

Personally, I use high temp (made for exhaust) RTV.

 

[dfrazz]

Hello again everyone,
So I replaced the header gaskets with copper gaskets, tighten the new Stage 8 bolts down following the head gasket pattern, no RTV, and when I fired her up lots of backfiring and ticking on both sides. I know I have to do a heat cycle which I let the temp get up to about 190 before shutting her off to cool down. Tell me this is going to get a lot better when I tighten the bolts again in the morning, or did I seriously mess something up.

 

[sfort]

Check your spark plug wire locations and connection.