the phantom tick of the buick

so i have fully rebuilt buick 322 nailhead in mu buick with the original but rebuilt dynaflow. i have a loud tick when i accelerate. it is very sparatic and random. sometimes it goes away for a drive but always returns the next day. its not there when the car is not im motion. runs like a dream at idle. i thought a lifter for a while but wouldnt that tick at all running times? exaust leak? it sounds just like the fan is hitting a wire hanging down, but of course that is not the case. im praying its not in the transmission. anyone have any experience with this sort of issue? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

Any possibility it could be a bad needle bearing in a U-joint going bad?

 

Just a wild guess. What about the speedometer drive gear or cable?

 

I agree with blackrat40, bad u-joint, been there went nuts looking for bad lifters, exhaust leak. A buddie heard me coming to his garage, when I get there he asks which u-joint is bad? Grab the driveshaft and try to turn it in park, any movement, bad u-joint.

 

Timing set correctly? Btw Check out member Nailhead Brent he has a wagon like yours.

 

does a torque tube have u joints that would go bad?. i dont have much experience with drive shaft stuff.

 

yep timing was the first thing i checked. i thought maybe i had it too advanced. but it is ok.

 

the noise seems to be comming from the engine bay or front suspention some where. or tranny or drive shaft area. haha. its driving me crazy. chasing a ghost

 

Under load you say? Sounds like 'Pinging' it could be as simple as lower than normal octane gas you picked up somewhere. Further playing with the timing may improve it. Try an octane booster too.
Exclude the simple things like that then look at other problems.
Doc.

 

huh. never thought about that. thanks ill check it out.

 

Slight exhaust leak that goes away when the engine warms up and sealing surfaces expand enough to close the gap?

 

what he said. hard to find sometimes.just another place to look. good luck!!!

 

thanks for all the tips guys. helps alot. i got some new things to check out.

 

Man i had this same problem with a 455 buick motor and a 6 cylinder that was in a regal always under load tho...i never fiured it out for sure befor i sold both...must be a buick thing.

 

I had a similar noise in my 322" Buick. It turned out mine was an exhaust leak from the bottom side of the intake manifold. Theres a small metal plate right in the middle and a hole had developed in the plate. I made a new plate sealed it and ended the noise.

 

Had similar situation and it turned out to be the WATER PUMP!

 

Im still tracking the noise on my 316 Pontiac. Part is the rocker arms and I think the other is exhaust leak. Good luck!

 

man i got to say your wagon is sweet. mine is just like it but a century. i hope mine gets to the stage yours is some day. thanks for the tip.

 

Could be the fuel pump

 

Check your motor mounts.....your fan may be hitting something.

 

Could be a bad valve guide. A buddy of mine had this happen Ticking under accelerationAlso could be a rocker. Take a screw driver and place on engine and put you ear on screwdriver. Use long screwdriver.Poorman's stethoscope. Try to see if you hear any variation in sound.Another words .Your phantom tick. This should Isolate If it is in the heads .