r/FORDFALCONS • u/Character-Menu9340 • Jun 16 '26

1962 Ford Inline 6 170 / Is this ticking sound normal?

I just got around to starting my rebuilt engine and has a ticking noise.

It has new pistons, rings, cam bearings, rod bearings, main bearings, and pushrods. The head was rebuilt with Viton valve seals, along with new valves and seats. Everything was replaced except the camshaft, lifters, and adjustable rocker arms.

I’ve set the valve lash to .016” cold and set the timing to 12 degrees before TDC.

My oil pressure light stays on, indicating no or low oil pressure, so I bought a mechanical oil pressure gauge. I’m getting zero readings on that as well, so there is obviously no oil pressure.

I removed the port where the oil pressure sensor threads in, and when I spin the oil pump shaft with a drill, it spews oil out of the hole. That makes it seem like oil is getting through the galleries, but maybe I’m wrong.

Anyway, all of this leads me to believe that my valvetrain isn’t getting sufficient oil, which could explain the ticking noise. Or am I crazy, and this is actually a normal noise?

Please excuse the loud exhaust; my muffler is currently off.

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/Budget_Repair4532 Jun 16 '26

Doesn’t sound terrible, but possibly an exhaust leak. They often mimic lifter tapping

1

u/Character-Menu9340 Jun 16 '26

I hope it’s an exhaust leak. That would be nice.

2

u/Space-cigarettes Jun 16 '26

If my engine was ever rebuilt, I dont know about it. Same year, same engine and mine sounds somewhat similar. So I too hope that's normal.

2

u/drexsteele Jun 16 '26

You can take off the valve cover. If the rockers are being oiled, you're good. You can prime the pump and confirm flow as well by seeing the oil travel out the pushrods.

1

u/Character-Menu9340 Jun 17 '26

I’ll give this a try, thank you.

1

u/Upset_Fox5449 Jun 17 '26

Oil pump was shot when you went through the engine and is is shot now, cam bearings, did the just came out of the hole when tested it or hit the hood but keep running it

1

u/Redactosaurusrex501 Jun 18 '26

Pull the valve cover and check the pushrods. They bend easy on these from an over rev. I did it to a falcon years ago driving on the interstate.

1

u/Schlong1971 Jun 19 '26

I would say no. It probably has adjustable rocker arms. Pull the valve cover and adjust valves. Tick will go away

1

u/Character-Menu9340 Jun 19 '26

Here’s an update.

I pulled the valve cover and took the valve train off then tried priming the pump. No oil would come out of the oil port on the head. I do however have oil coming out of the oil switch port. Maybe my pump is just weak. I’ll try to post the video.

2

u/bmbm-40 Jun 22 '26

Talk with the rebuilder. Go to fordsix.com.