I put headers on a while back and there has been this ticking noise that sounds like it is coming just from the drivers side engine bay. I can only hear it when I am accelerating. Does anyone know what could be causing this? I check the header and I cant feel any leaks. Could it be the gasket?? Thanks for your help.

 

Could be an exhaust leak. Look closely for any soot escaping at flange points.

 

Exhaust leak by the gasket most likely. Header bolts are known to loosen a bit over time. It's happened to me twice now. Both times the tick sounded almost mechanical, so I was a bit worried at first myself. It's not a must fix immediatly, but it can be pretty annoying over time.

 

Definatly a header exhaust leak, man I must have went through about 3 passenger side gasket before I got mine to stop. I finally stopped buying the cheap paper ones and got some copper felpros, no more problems. I would almost promise thats whats wrong with your car. Are you running the cheapy paper gaskets. Stage 8 header bolts would not be a bad investment after you swap the gaskets.

 

Could be a loose spark plug... for the longest time I thought I had a leak at the collector but I was inspecting the engine really closely running and I noticed the rear most plug was wiggling around a little bit. Turned out the hole is stripped... **** Might want to check yours out.

 

I agree with you,
Check your spark plugs, a loose plug makes the same type of exhaust leak tick noise.

 

That is what I thought it was originally. The back two spark plugs were wiggling around on the drivers side. So I tighted one and tried to do the other but it turned out to be cross threaded. I got that situation worked out and it still makes that same noise. So I am hoping that it is the gasket. The gasket that is on it now is a paper gasket but its not what came with the headers, guess I should of got the copper ones.

 

Well I found the problem. The gasket that was on it was supposed the wrong size. The hot air actually burnt a hole in the gasket and that is where it was leaking. I got the ones that Speed Inc. recommended for the install. I guess it figures, I really dont care for their service anyway.