Strange Clicking Noise 383 Engine

[toolmanmike]

Let's see, the noise goes away when the valve cover is removed.

 

[kiwigtx]

If the noise is only occurs when driving - check your front wheels for baseball cards.

 

[AR67GTX]

I would check the baffle in the valve cover closely. Maybe one of the spot welds broke and it’s vibrating and resonating on the valve cover. But, if you have aftermarket aluminum valve covers this may not be applicable.

 

[DeltaV]

Let's see, the noise goes away when the valve cover is removed.

and stuffing cardboard between the cylinder head and exhaust manifold.

 

[jdsgtx]

Hello! I have an odd issue I was hoping to get some help with, as this forum has been super helpful every time I’ve posted!

I have a 1970 383 4bbl in my 1969 Dodge Charger. I’ve been driving it a lot and it’s been running great all spring and summer. However, I start it up a few Sundays ago and it starts making a loud clicking noise form under the engine bay.

I shouldn’t have, but I drove it up the block and back. If the noise wasn’t there you wouldn’t notice anything different in how it ran and would think all is well.

Today, my cousin Josh and our friend Kenny came over to help diagnose it.

We took the valve cover off and nothing is loose or missing. We even turned the crank and checked all of the rocker arms, etc. with and without load. We then left the valve cover off and put cardboard between the cylinder head and the exhaust manifolds and started it. When we did that there wasn’t any noise at all! It went away completely!

We reinstalled the valve cover and the noise is back. It’s never done that before. We even used a stethoscope type tool to listen to the engine with the valve cover one and it sounded the same everywhere. It was much louder when placing it in the exhaust manifold (factory exhaust manifolds, no headers), but it was consistently the same type and rhythm of noise no matter where you placed the stethoscope.

Baffled as to why when the valve cover is on, it clicks. When the valve cover is off it doesn’t ‍

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

View attachment 1756645

Exhaust leak

 

[Mopar Hunter]

If the noise is only occurs when driving - check your front wheels for baseball cards.

Wire ties on driveshaft.

 

[glrestomod]

I ordered the exhaust flange gasket, should hear back Monday about availability. It’s a special order item at O’Reiley’s but it’s only $7 if they can get it. The other places I find it at online are the same product price but cost (lowest shipping price) $14 to ship! So I’m going to hopefully get good news about it on Monday. Once I do I’ll then plan a time to replace it. Thanks to everyone for the help so far and I’ll keep everyone updated

 

[Don Frelier]

If you spray the nuts from underneath with some penetrating oil like pb blaster it might make removal easier.

 

[khryslerkid]

If you spray the nuts from underneath with some penetrating oil like pb blaster it might make removal easier.

 

[kiwigtx]

Wire ties on driveshaft.

View attachment 1759057

Or maybe if the engine makes a clicking sound at random times, it may have Tourette's

 

[khryslerkid]

Or maybe if the engine makes a clicking sound at random times, it may have Tourette's

When I was just a kid my mom would take me along to the grocery store. A few times there was a elderly man there shopping and all of a sudden he would yell out profanities. My mom would cover my ears with her hands a rush me off to the other side of the store. I guess it was my first introduction to cuss words. I didn't really understand what was going on with the old guy. I just thought he was just mad at the world for some reason.

Shopping today I thought about acting like I have touretts and start cussing at all of the high prices I was dealing with. $4.00 for a dozen eggs, $1.07 for a medium size tomato, baloney $5.00 a pound!

 

[glrestomod]

If you spray the nuts from underneath with some penetrating oil like pb blaster it might make removal easier.

Thank you!

 

[WileE]

If you spray the nuts from underneath with some penetrating oil like pb blaster it might make removal easier.

 

[glrestomod]

I found the Mahle brand exhaust flange gasket. Should arrive in about a week or so. I appreciate everyone’s help so far! Hopefully this will fix it: I’ll post an update once I receive the part and I’m able to install it. Thanks again everyone and hope this works!

 

[Don Frelier]

If it is leaking around the flange you should be able to find it by starting it cold and just wave your hand around the perimeter of the flange.
But it will heat up pretty quickly.

 

[themechanic]

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

 

[glrestomod]

UPDATE:

I finally changed the exhaust flange gasket, still making that same clicking noise and now it seems there’s an oil leak (I’m assuming it needs a valve cover gasket as the smoke is coming from that side of the car and smells like oil) in that same side of the car. Could a valve cover gasket failing cause that clicking noise?

 

[Frank Mopar]

Soapy spray along the exhaust manifold. It will bubble if there is a leak.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

UPDATE:

I finally changed the exhaust flange gasket, still making that same clicking noise and now it seems there’s an oil leak (I’m assuming it needs a valve cover gasket as the smoke is coming from that side of the car and smells like oil) in that same side of the car. Could a valve cover gasket failing cause that clicking noise?

No, a leaking valve cover gasket will not cause a clicking noise.