You get those header gaskets installed yet bud?
Tonyrodz's Tahoe Build Thread
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Tonyrodz
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Not yet, maybe today.
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So how can you tell if it's a lifter or a header gasket making ticking noises?
My last truck had a very common issue with header gaskets going bad and would start to make a ticking noise upon start up but after a few minutes it got warm and the ticking went away. Maybe left unattended it would get worse over time I'm not sure as I had mine fixed within a week.
I would guess a lifter would tick the whole time driving.
I just hate how they both have the exact same sound lol. Scared the crap out of me when I first heard it.
Just my experience with header gaskets, no experience with bad lifters (fingers crossed)
My last truck had a very common issue with header gaskets going bad and would start to make a ticking noise upon start up but after a few minutes it got warm and the ticking went away. Maybe left unattended it would get worse over time I'm not sure as I had mine fixed within a week.
I would guess a lifter would tick the whole time driving.
I just hate how they both have the exact same sound lol. Scared the crap out of me when I first heard it.
Just my experience with header gaskets, no experience with bad lifters (fingers crossed)
Lifter tick is just at startup alot of times too. Hard to tell the difference to me. My header gasket leak was a constant sound.
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Tonyrodz
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Epic fail today and I'm super pissed. The old gasket didn't seem like it was blown out. Didn't see anything unusual.
Here's the "new" gaskets after I tried moving them around once they were in place. The 2 center holes wouldn't line up for anything, so I was moving them around.
What a waste of time and money. I had to put the old gasket back in and it leaks even louder.
Here's the "new" gaskets after I tried moving them around once they were in place. The 2 center holes wouldn't line up for anything, so I was moving them around.
What a waste of time and money. I had to put the old gasket back in and it leaks even louder.
They only go on one way so you must have had then turned around wrong. Those old gaskets were leaking almost everywhere it looks to me. Why didn't you just go to the auto parts store and get a new set instead of putting the old ones back on? Once they're crushed once that's it. They're not reusable. Sorry for that bad news. Man that sucks. At least you have practice now.
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Tonyrodz
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I'm on my way now for new gaskets.
All those black areas around the openings on the old gaskets are where they're leaking. The places that are still silver are where they're not leaking.
95escahoe
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Those new gaskets should make a world of difference they were leaking like crazy
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Also I hate to say it but this is a problem with cheap headers, trying to get them to seal. If a new set doesn't fix it I've heard of using 2 sets to make up for the irregularities in the flanges. That's why I was steering you to the Remtex but they're fragile like you found out. Sorry you're having problems but you'll get it eventually.
iamdub
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As was said, lifters usually tick for a few seconds to a minute or so after startup. If the lifter tick is constant, then that lifter is screwed and is a ticking bomb for your engine.
Often, a ticking exhaust leak changes with temperature and gets worse or better or goes away soon after startup. So they can be difficult to distinguish from each other. An almost surefire way to tell if it's the exhaust is to snap the throttle hard open for a split second (but not enough to actually rev the engine high while cold!) right after startup (if it ticks long enough) and see if the leaking exhaust gets louder or otherwise changes any in correlation to the rev.
Also, next time you go to install new exhaust gaskets, cut the bottoms of the outermost bolt holes so they're hooks, like in this pic:
You remove all but the outer bolts and have them backed almost all the way out so that they hold the headers in location, then slip the new gasket into place between the flange and head with the "hooks" resting on the two bolts. Put the other bolts in place and tighten them all up evenly in the specified torque sequence.
Often, a ticking exhaust leak changes with temperature and gets worse or better or goes away soon after startup. So they can be difficult to distinguish from each other. An almost surefire way to tell if it's the exhaust is to snap the throttle hard open for a split second (but not enough to actually rev the engine high while cold!) right after startup (if it ticks long enough) and see if the leaking exhaust gets louder or otherwise changes any in correlation to the rev.
Also, next time you go to install new exhaust gaskets, cut the bottoms of the outermost bolt holes so they're hooks, like in this pic:
You remove all but the outer bolts and have them backed almost all the way out so that they hold the headers in location, then slip the new gasket into place between the flange and head with the "hooks" resting on the two bolts. Put the other bolts in place and tighten them all up evenly in the specified torque sequence.
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Tonyrodz
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Would you guys use lock washers?
If you notice, the Remtek's center holes aren't elongated like your others so the new ones might not be either. Our motors have offset bolts in the center so you need to pay attention which way the gaskets need to be turned in order to line up the holes in the gaskets. Here's a pic of mine but I'm not sure which side this is, I think it's passenger. The right bolt is higher than the left.
Yes- didn't your bolts come with them?
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Tonyrodz
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No, but I did buy some.
Duh that is the passenger side.
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Tonyrodz
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Got some fel pros.
Not leaking anymore. Driver side has to wait.
Thx for all the help, to everyone who posted.
EDIT:
That damn pulley I changed over a month ago is squeaking again.
Not leaking anymore. Driver side has to wait.
EDIT:
That damn pulley I changed over a month ago is squeaking again.
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Awesome news on the headers. Which pulley is that?
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Tonyrodz
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Idler/tensioner. The one that's on the upper passenger side. Iirc, it's an Ac Delco replacement.
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Tonyrodz
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Funny, until recently I never heard any kind of leak--granted it's my gf's dd. She's actually the one that noticed the leak and told me about it.
