This weekend I installed a Bad Mab header and a polished valve cover. Ever since I have have a clacking sound (see attached video). For the most part the sound tends to go away after the motor warms up , but not entirely. I have taken off the valve cover again and retorqued it. but still makes the noise. it seems be localized near the timing chain end at the rear. Thoughts?

 

And Bump!

 

prolly an exhaust leak. manifold leaks go away after car warms up if its small. if not, then check timing tensioner.

 

def not an exhaust leak. hard to tell what it is without being there though..when you took it off did you look at the valvetrain make sure nothing was broken off

 

nvm listened to video... doesnt sound like exhaust leak.

 

 

I would say that it is an exhaust leak. I had the same sound when my header wasn't tightened up enough. I re-torqued the header and the noise went away.

 

face palm

 

lol exhaust leaks dont squeak

 

use a stethoscope to try and pin point. or really long screw driver. touch places around where you think the noise is from. such as back of head, valve cover, tensioner etc

 

good ol' trusty screwdriver

 

I am going to disagree that an exhaust leak cannot sound like a squeak.....if the opneing for the leak is small enough it can sound like a squeak because the pulse is causing a whistling sound. The gasket causes the vibration muck like holding a piece of grass between your thumbs.

I would do as someone suggested stethoscope or something similar. A trick a neighbor showed me was to take his air hose and blow a gentle stream of air around the suspected leak areas (about 6 inches away) and the leaking air will change the sound of air stream to help you zone in on the leak.

Did you put the heat shield back on? Could it be rubbing causing a squeak?

 

Opps just read polished valve cover was installed....disregard previous post......

 

Here is a vid of mine. It sounds just the same sound as the OP.

Weird engine noise after header install - YouTube

I would say that it is an exhaust leak at the header. Try to re-torque the header or replace the gasket if it was re-used and I would think the noise will go away.

 

that's a completely diff noise that's classic exhaust leak chugging. op's vid you can clearly hear something in the head metal on metal imo but i'm not a 100% internet car diagnoser .

 

I took the valve cover off and check for any thing that might have been bumped or damaged during the process and saw nothing. Heat sheild was not re installed. And I have retorqued the header nuts still doesnt help. I will take of the VC again on friday to check the timing chain tensioner ( any one have a pic of what i am looking for in that regard?)

 

I think it may be the camera the op used but you may be right. All I am saying is that he should start with something relatively simple and see if it solves the problem as he has already removed and installed the valve cover.

 

can't see the tct with the vc off i think. it's on the side of the block.

 

yea you could def be right it is hosted on photobucket also just sounds like metal on metal to me.. i'm pissed off from work still sorry .

 

oops... i didn't see your post yellow dragon before I posted it.

 

it does sound like it's coming from the head. and does sound like metal on metal the rythym reminds me of the sound lifters or valves make. but it's weird as it only started after i removed and replaced the valve cover and put on a header. Weird.

 

tensioner or some kind of pulley? Sounds weird...

 

Not sure what the noise is but is it just me or is there smoke coming from down by the header?

 

Yep smoke i leaked some oil on it when I took off the valve cover today Whoops.

 

The problem must be attributed to your recent mods. If you say you see no markings on the inside of the v/c then It eliminates the v/c. It's hard to tell with the camera but I've heard a lot of different exhaust leak noises. I'm guessing the header came with a gasket? You could check around the header for carbon/black spots. Exhaust leak would make sense if it goes away after warming up.