Hi All,

This is my first post on FTE. Thank you for all of the informative threads so far! I just recently purchased a 75 F-150 with a 360 and I am in the process of figuring out all of her quirks and problems. I previously had a 76 Highboy (miss that truck!).

The other day I was driving back home on the freeway and I started hearing a loud ticking noise from the top end of the engine. I was almost to my exit so I continued on and then pulled over once I was off. I have an exhaust leak from the header and collector gaskets (new gaskets arrived today) but this was not the noise. As soon as I give her throttle, the ticking noise would get louder and louder. Sounds like a lifter but I have not confirmed this yet. The noise is coming from the top end of the motor and does not sound like a rod knock. I drove her a couple of times since then and did not hear it but I did not take her on the freeway. Seems like this noise is only present when the engine is HOT. I bought some lucas additive thinking it does not hurt to try. I have the exhaust apart at the moment and as soon as I get the gaskets replaced, I plan on starting her up and taking her for a freeway drive to duplicate the noise. Any thoughts based on known failures? Unfortunately, I do not have a mechanical oil pressure gauge in yet but I will real soon. I would like to see my pressure when the noise is there. The High and Low just doesn't cut it! (At freeway speeds, I must be close to or more than 5k RPM given the 4:56s and 35" tires. My temp runs at 190ish once it is warm/hot)

I also have a fuel gauge that is always reading beyond full but thanks to the threads, I should have it figured out in the near future.

Thanks!

 

have a look here .. 5,000 actual rpm sounds like a lot Gear Ratio and Tire Size Calculator - 4x4 and Jeep Ring & Pinion

FE motors do like to bend push rods but let's see how it runs after the Lucas additive first

 

Thanks for the reply. I could be completely wrong with the RPM but when listening to the engine, it sounds like it is running at higher RPMs. I have a tach that I will be installing. No guessing needed

 

A bad lifter will sound almost exactly like shaking an empty spraypaint can.

Have you opened that Lucas crap yet? It more closely resembles grease than oil, and it's sticky. It's like pouring caramel in your engine. Hold off on that stuff; it's a band-aid...a very crude, snakeoilish band-aid that in all likelihood won't work.

Get a mechanical gauge on there and see what it registers, first. No use gumming up your engine for no reason.