When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently had a set of gibson headers put on my 02 f250 sd with 5.4 and after they were installed by a well known local exhaust shop where i've had work done before, I now experience a nasty ticking sound coming from up front. It sounds to me like when the donut gasket went on my 97 F-150. The exhaust shop has checked everything 3 times now and can't find a leak. They have heard the noise but have no explanation for it. I have contacted gibson also but any insight into this would be greatly appreciated!!
I have the same problem on my V10. Until you see some black exhaust evidence, you won't find it. My best advice is to go and retighten everything. Your collector is a ball type so loosening and retightening might suffice if a collector leak is present.
A lean condition can cause a distinctive ticking sound with headers.
The MAF wiring goes through a rubber plug in the bottom of the V10's air box (and the V8's too) and on mine, it had slipped out letting unmetered air past the MAF causing a lean condition.
Just putting the plug back made a HUGE difference in the ticking with my headers.
I'd clean the MAF, check for vacuum leaks (both regular vacuum lines and anywhere between the MAF and the throttle body) and change the fuel filter if it hasn't been done lately.
Does it do it at idle? If so, that's more of a real leak, check around with a hose to your ear and you should be able to find the leak.