smol_snekSVT
New Member
Hello everyone!
This is my first post as a member, as this forum page has helped me a lot with finding various issues with my recently purchased 96 Cobra. I come to you all because I am honestly stumped on this issue thats been plaguing my cobra ever since I bought it. This issue is a "ticking" sound very similar to lifter tick. This particular cobra has had a history of overheating as well as many other issues found at the time of purchase. It has 128,000 miles and was completely stock when I bought it. It was stupid cheap, and I decided to go ahead and buy this basket case.
Here is all the information and clues I have gathered in trying to pinpoint this issue:
-Ticking is constant and dies off after 2300 rpm
- It is a consistent tick and goes in sync with the engine speed, it does not sound like an injector
- I have done the timing chains, tensioners, sprockets, etc. as well as installed brand new OEM lifters and cam followers
- I found no excessive wear on the cam lobes or any of the timing components
- All the old lifters prior to being replaced seemed healthy and held tension. The cam followers were also in good shape (in line with its mileage)
- Compression on Bank 1 is a consistent 150 psi, while bank 2 with the ticking noise has an average of 120 psi. Each cylinder on both banks holds compression, there is no hissing noises or anything that might tell me the valves are leaking. Leak down test also resulted in almost no difference in compression results.
- Above 6000 rpm, there is a muffled popping sound that sounds like its coming from bank 2 or at least the top end
- Some days there will be no ticking at all, other times itll be consistent for weeks on end. I have not been able to find out whether this is related to any specific driving conditions.
- Thicker and thinner oil do not make any difference
- I added 2 quarts of atf and the rest 5w30, then let the car idle for 10 mins before doing an oil change to try and clean out anything that might be messing with the oil pressure.
- Bama has stated that the engine load reading is abnormally low at WOT (bama tuner says its at .6 WOT)
- Aside from all these issues, the cobra still pulls really well, and feels good. I have not had any issues related to performance. (as far as I can tell, I havent had the opportunity to drive another cobra to compare)
In reality, this car is probably due for an engine rebuild, or at least rebuilt heads from all the overheating I was told about. I have read horror stories that it might be a cracked wrist pin or a bent valve, however it confuses me because it dies off above 2300 rpm. I would assume that if it was either of those two, it should be consistent at all rpms? And if it was related to oil starvation, then wouldnt both banks be affected? It is currently my daily, so I am limited on what I can do in terms of pulling the engine and what not. Any information that can point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I really love this car, and this tick is the last issue that would need to be remedied in order for it to be truly healthy. Aside from the tick, everything is in complete and working order. Maintenance is up to date, and I have basically replaced/repaired everything aside from the engine. Shes got 4.10s waiting for her, but I dont want to mess with engine speed until this ticking issue is resolved. Thank you all again for any input!
This is my first post as a member, as this forum page has helped me a lot with finding various issues with my recently purchased 96 Cobra. I come to you all because I am honestly stumped on this issue thats been plaguing my cobra ever since I bought it. This issue is a "ticking" sound very similar to lifter tick. This particular cobra has had a history of overheating as well as many other issues found at the time of purchase. It has 128,000 miles and was completely stock when I bought it. It was stupid cheap, and I decided to go ahead and buy this basket case.
Here is all the information and clues I have gathered in trying to pinpoint this issue:
-Ticking is constant and dies off after 2300 rpm
- It is a consistent tick and goes in sync with the engine speed, it does not sound like an injector
- I have done the timing chains, tensioners, sprockets, etc. as well as installed brand new OEM lifters and cam followers
- I found no excessive wear on the cam lobes or any of the timing components
- All the old lifters prior to being replaced seemed healthy and held tension. The cam followers were also in good shape (in line with its mileage)
- Compression on Bank 1 is a consistent 150 psi, while bank 2 with the ticking noise has an average of 120 psi. Each cylinder on both banks holds compression, there is no hissing noises or anything that might tell me the valves are leaking. Leak down test also resulted in almost no difference in compression results.
- Above 6000 rpm, there is a muffled popping sound that sounds like its coming from bank 2 or at least the top end
- Some days there will be no ticking at all, other times itll be consistent for weeks on end. I have not been able to find out whether this is related to any specific driving conditions.
- Thicker and thinner oil do not make any difference
- I added 2 quarts of atf and the rest 5w30, then let the car idle for 10 mins before doing an oil change to try and clean out anything that might be messing with the oil pressure.
- Bama has stated that the engine load reading is abnormally low at WOT (bama tuner says its at .6 WOT)
- Aside from all these issues, the cobra still pulls really well, and feels good. I have not had any issues related to performance. (as far as I can tell, I havent had the opportunity to drive another cobra to compare)
In reality, this car is probably due for an engine rebuild, or at least rebuilt heads from all the overheating I was told about. I have read horror stories that it might be a cracked wrist pin or a bent valve, however it confuses me because it dies off above 2300 rpm. I would assume that if it was either of those two, it should be consistent at all rpms? And if it was related to oil starvation, then wouldnt both banks be affected? It is currently my daily, so I am limited on what I can do in terms of pulling the engine and what not. Any information that can point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I really love this car, and this tick is the last issue that would need to be remedied in order for it to be truly healthy. Aside from the tick, everything is in complete and working order. Maintenance is up to date, and I have basically replaced/repaired everything aside from the engine. Shes got 4.10s waiting for her, but I dont want to mess with engine speed until this ticking issue is resolved. Thank you all again for any input!