so after I changed the header/dp, and had my mechanic fix the bolts and what not, the car now has a ticking sound on start up. almost every time it starts. once its warm you dont hear it. but if its warm, and I shut it off then crank it again you can hear it. we checked for exhaust leaks but found none. no codes, the numbers im seeing on the torque app seem the same. its just annoying, and well kind of embarrassing when ppl are around like last night. any ideas guys? if needed I can get a video in just a few for a sound clip.

 

u can hear the valves ticking due to the header thinner material over stock header? idk

or the header isnt sitting flat against the head

 

i used to have the same issue, it was a header leak in my scenario... how'd you test it for leaks? it only takes a really small one.

either that or valve tick, it happens

 

in that case, would the heat make it sit flat therefore ridding of the sound? the header looked straight before I put it on. I checked it to the best of my abilities.

 

yeah the way i see it the heat makes the pieces expand a little bit enough to kind of seal up leaks

 

well we kept having problems with leaks due to it not being tight but he felt all those leaks. he hand checked and didnt feel anything. what other methods can I use to test?

 

have you retorqued it yet? make sure you go according to the pattern

 

I may look to buy a new thicker gasket, like that one you sold me adam. the stock one is so thin. I didnt like it when I pulled it off.

 

ill have to have the mechanic do that. I learned it takes more than simple tools to get into the tight spaces with this header. altho I may buy a brand new one in a few weeks anyhow. the other guy backed to buying the stang so im selling it to my dad.

 

not to mention all the bolt studs came out instead of just the nuts lol
pissed me off.

 

Its def important to torque them down correctly, GM doesn't have a specific order for no reason

 

haha yeah I know. I fail :-(

 

No you're just learning you're not the first to do that and probably won't be the last

 

I did learn I need much better tools. I couldnt get to some of those bolts even with my hands lol.

 

i can get to all of them from the top expect, 7&8 i have to tighten them from under the car haha

its annoying thats why we get the leaks

 

You say ebay header. Did you use the gasket that it came with ? Hope not lmao. I didnt tighten mine like that, and its doing fine lol .

 

Mine ticks too.

 

naw stock gasket. I say ebay because thats what goofybalt said when I bought it lol.

7, 8, 5, and 3. 4 too as well lol.

 

pic of header?

 

cold start



http://static.photobucket.com/player...ps1816820e.mp4




after a short drive to the store.



http://static.photobucket.com/player...ps29eab053.mp4

 

 

hahaha i have small hands

 

Looks like mine! How can you tell badmab from ebay ? Guy I bought mine off of SAID its a badmab! I think he lied , hope it holds up.

 

I don't :-(

it could be a badmab bought off ebay. but since I don't know for sure im not claiming it as such.

 

Mine does the same thing

Every start up, for 1-2 minutes it will ticktick. Mine got louder over time, and i realized its the header. ( had flex pipe replaced, wasnt the issue, and everything els tested )