Here's the senerio: I've been getting a ticking noise from my 302 for the last 500 miles. Engine is newly rebuilt (doesn't have 2,500 miles on it). On the way home Wednesday night from my local casino on the freeway, all of a sudden it got real loud. My first reaction was "Now what!!!?" I was hoping it was a header gasket leaking (no such luck). Upon investigation the noise was coming from the passenger side valve cover. I figured, Damn....a collasped lifter. This morning I had the chance to pull off the valve cover. I found #1 rocker arm very loose (rattling around). When I removed it, I found that the exhaust valve stem cap had a hole in it. I went to Napa to get the part. He had no idea what I was talking about (I had left the part at home). Upon looking thru 4 books he found a short blurb about the exhaust hardened steel valve stem cap (no part number). I went to another Auto Parts Store (no luck). Called 2 other Auto Parts Stores (friends that I know work there) they couldn't find anything either. One of my friends thought I was pulling his leg (playing a joke). I told him I was serious. The second friend told me his 68 Ford Galaxie had the same thing (that's why he replaced the exhaust valves with hardened steel ones). He told me it was most likely a dealer or wrecking yard item. This is Sunday (no dealer parts stores open). I had 8 minutes to make it to a wrecking yard (cold day in hell). LOL I looked up from the phone booth & there it was, next door (4 Corners Auto Wrecking). I drove over in a flash. As I approached the door, he turned the sign to "Closed". Awwwww.....come on!!!!! I pleaded with hime to let me in. He asked what I needed (I told him). He said, "over there is the engine pile, you have 8 minutes (I'm going home)". I found a 302 engine, but, what year was it? It had to be from 1968 to 1978 cuz that was the years for soft steel exhaust valves with hardened steel stem caps. The yellow stamped numbers on the valve cover said "1971"....WooHoo!!!!!! This is it!!! I've hit the Mother load! How much time is left? Who cares, I'm getting these caps. If I hear the dogs, I'll know my time is up (then I'll run like hell). LOL I managed to get finished with one minute to spare. I walked up to the counter, the guy asked if I found what I needed? I showed him 4 steel valve stem caps. I said "what do I owe you?" He said, "it's on the house, have a nice day". Got home put it together & no more ticking. I still have 3 stem caps as reserves. I tell you this story, cause I don't want you to have to go thru what I did. I learned something today about my 302 & so did a lot of other people (including parts people & auto techs). I've posted a picture, so you'll know what to look for. It was really an easy fix, if you have the part. The one on the left is the culprit. The one on the right is what it should look like. Hope this info helps if you have a similar problem with ticking noises.
Never heard of anything like that...glad you figured it out. I had a simular problem with a '74 302...kept going through rockers. One would start ticking after a few months..so every few months I would replace it and so on and so on for about 2 years. Of course it had over 160,000 miles on it. Never did figure out the problem.
Good post.... so if the rocker arm is loose chances are the stem cap is bad? I have a very slight ticking on the drivers side #7 I believe but all my rockers were tight the last time I checked. I havn't pulled the rocker and checked the stem cap yet. May be worth taking a look at.
I like it when members share their trouble shooting skills, and your story tellin' aint to bad either.
