This borders on being a stupid question, but my car is driving me nuts...so here goes.

I installed a set of Jet-Hot long tube headers with an off-road Y-pipe. After the install the car was giving a "tapping" sound that made me think I had a leak in a gasket somewhere in the system. The tap gets louder while accelerating.

I've now taken the car to TWO different reputable shops and no one can find a leak in the car. It idles nice and when I rev it in neutral it sounds very good.

When I drive it gives a tapping sound like a valve The noise is really amplified when the engine is around 2,000 RPM's and lugging in 3rd or 4th gear. I originally thought this was (and may still be) a leak in the system.

So, the dumb part of the question.... is this normal? Is it just valve noise being amplified through the long tubes? It is quite loud at times. Do I have a phantom leak that nobody can seem to find? I get a whiff of exhaust when I shut down the car, but I don't really notice exhaust fumes while driving.

My main concern is not to muck the engine on the car. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28

 

My engine noise is amplified through the headers, For a while until I changed exhaust systems I heard the same noise as you, a loud ticking like the gaskets were blown. I did find some leaks that opened up after so many miles, but since I changed systems I can't say for sure that it was the leaks, This time around I welded everything real well and no ticking, but like i said, I still hear noises from the headers, they make the engine louder than the exhaust that I have. Some shops have a habbit of not welding the top part of the exhaust, or not all the way around the pipe, this could be it, maybe not.

 

Since it only does it when you are driving, I would assume it's your y-pipe hitting somewhere. Like the trans member on the drivers side. I would also consider the motor mounts if they are worn out. Anything that would get cause the headers to move when you are moving.

Jeff D.

 

My guess would be an exhaust leak. With the car running, hold your hands around where the headers bolt up to the heads and see if you can feel any air leaks.

 

I use to have tapping noises before I changed to polyurathane engine mounts. No more banging. My headers use to vibrate in my eyes while the car was idling (cc306 ), no they are still

 

Have you ruled out an arcing plug wire?

 

Sounds like an exhaust leak to me. Did you keep your emissions? I know I had a fun time trying to get the egr to fit snug with the header.

 

If you have a scanner like Autotap or scanmaster, you can check your block learns to see which side is running leaner/richer and it will narrow it down to which side the leak is coming from (if there is actually a leak).

I have a leak on my passenger side and it has gotten worse over time, I still have to get it fixed but the scanmaster indicates (at cruising speed) that the block learn counts are up like 6-9 counts on the passenger side (where the leak is) compared to the driver side header.

Hope that helps,
Claude

 

I appreciate the input. I'm taking it to Austin on Friday and having a shop called AutoTek give it a look. Hopefully they can ID/fix my problem. I know I'm tired of troubleshooting it

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28

 

Damn, I have the exact same problem. Only does it in Drive or Park, quits when in Nuetral. It isn't coming from the bay area but underneath somewhere around the y-pipe. The ticking never started until I got my y-pipe installed with the rest of my exhaust.

I thought at first it was my header bolt I dropped between the 4 primaries on the passenger side, but no luck - still there.

Let me know what you find out!

 

I know exactly what you're saying about dropping the header bolt in between the primary tubes. Here's how to "get them"

Take a cheap magnetic pickup tool (the type that telescopes like a radio antenna.) Break off the magnet leaving about 8-12" of the antenna. Now, bend a coat hangar to conform in the gap and around the 30 degree or so bend that the four primary tubes make when they come together at the collector. USe electrical tape or similiar and lash the magnetic pickup antenna to the coat hangar. Next, wrap more tape around the sides of the magnetic pickup, so that only the tip is now magnetized. You can start retrieving bolts then It worked very well.

I'll let everyone know what the ultimate problem was when I get my car back on Friday.

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28

 

Eh, I just used an air compressor

 

My car ticks/taps too. I guess its normal. I have no leaks. Just tightened down the header bolts on both sides because I lost the one next to the #6 primary somehow. Engine is fine and silent other than running but I can hear the ticking if I put my head next to the front wheel wells. I'd say everything is fine or we all have problems.

 

My tick is loud though, can be heard from the interior. Not so much as a tick really, more like a rattling.

 

Its just the amplified noise, I could sit in a drive through and hear all my rockers when I had a stock valvetrain. I compared it to sounding like a raggedy car, but after the new valvetrain and CC306 I cant hear anything but a smooth purr from the rockers.