A characteristic E-type 'ticking' sound

pip007 · Post by **pip007** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:58 pm

One of my early memories of an E-type was hearing a kind of ticking sound. I recently read about a characteristic E-type 'ticking', but I've only found one passing reference to it in a magazine. My own car makes such a sound but at first I thought it was the valve clearances making a noise so I had them adjusted, and the ticking is still here. It's not an unpleasant sound, and it has a certain quality feel to it, but I'm wondering what actually causes it? Any thoughts on this? Is it a real phenomenon or am I imagining things?

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:31 pm

Is this with the car at tick-over or on the move? if it happens when you are moving then probably the speedo.

pip007 · Post by **pip007** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:33 pm

At tick over with car stationary.

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:54 pm

Tappets I would guess.

pip007 · Post by **pip007** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:05 pm

I guess so. I'm guessing you've not heard it on your car? So maybe not a 'signature' Jaguar sound after all. Just noisy tappets.

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:35 pm

Certainly have! Unfortunately it got worse and the guides had to be refitted so it was head off.

GSR 54D · Post by **GSR 54D** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:16 pm

I have, what I believe to be, a tappet noise on start up when cold but after about 10 minutes of driving, having warmed up, the engine sounds sweet so haven't really worried about it, should I?

John H

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:13 pm

No, that's normal. Mine was a rhythmic clattering - known problem which is why they sell the tie down kits although some claim they are not neccessary.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:13 am

David,

What is a tie down kit, what does it do and were does it fit?. My engine has a tappets/ ticking sound and it annoys me something awful. I like quiet engines, smooth and silky. My days of roar, roar are over.

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:50 am

Tony : your engine sounded perfectly normal to me the last time I heard it . These engines are not as quiet as modern ones with hydraulic tappets. Also, they are chain drive , which although much more durable and reliable (and expensive) than belt drive, is noisier . The tie down kits are straps which fit across an edge of the tappet bucket guides and prevent them coming loose and being hit by the camshafts . They have been made necessary on some engines by inaccurate boring of the holes for new tappet guides , ( which originally were a shrink fit using a heated head and liquid nitrogen ) and by inaccurate sizing of the guides themselves

wagstefan · Post by **wagstefan** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:04 pm

Hi there,

I just returned from collecting 885017. At lot is good, some can be improved and she gave me the first real shock as she was strongly decharging this evening, when driving her through the city.... But it all of a sudden changed back to charging, so I hope she will be fine for tomorrows trip to Silverstone.

However what worries me even more is when driving home for 350km (approx 220 miles) and turning the engine not more than 3000 rpm, I heard a permanent and prominent ticking sound. The engine was just revised with new pistons, new liners, crankshaft grinded, fine balanced and hardened, some valve guides and all seats changed (on my request and my bill to allow unleaded fuel without additions) at the head renewed, etc.

The history was, that the engine was done like 10 years before but at such a bad quality, that it had a decent fault. So it was necessary to have this work done again. As most went on the bill of the former owner, the head was just touched as much as necessary. And the engineer, who I believe did a good job overall, but due to cost reasons did not touch the tappet guides told me that the tie down kit would be an improvement to ensure them being held in place when becoming loose and mitigating bad noises. This according to his statement could also happen to the ones installed by the factory at one point of time.

I now suspect first due to cost reasons that the tappet guides were not touched but should have been and that the tie down kit would normally really not be necessary and was just a cheap compromise to have the engine finalised and the car ready to be supplied.

May be someone of you could kindly have a drive with me on the weekend at one evening and evaluate if my car is too loud with too much ticking?! That would be lovely.

Hope to see you and meeting you all on Sat and Sun! Really looking forward to....

Thanks in advance and best regards

Stefan

inca · Post by **inca** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:39 pm

Hi

Apologies for coming in on an old posting. I am intrigued to know how things went finally with your noisy tappets? I have a similar loud ticking noise and wonder whether it's an acceptable characteristic of the engine or needs some attention?

Regards

daykrolik · Post by **daykrolik** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:27 am

I apologize also for being a bit tardy on this post. I've owned an XK 150 for 48 years and done the mechanical work myself. It has given me 75,000 fabulous miles but has usually ( if not always) exhibited a ticking noise. I have attributed it to "one noisy tappet" that causes no mischief. I've only had my Series 1 for a year, but it's running superbly and recently had a head rebuild. It ticks as well. My advice - have an expert give a listen, but then don't worry about it unless the expert feels certain that something significant is amiss.

Post by **mgcjag** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:07 am

Hi Guys....had what i thought sounded like one noisy tappet see the attached http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php? ... ht=tappets Steve

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A characteristic E-type 'ticking' sound

#1 A characteristic E-type 'ticking' sound

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#9 Noisy Engine

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#11 Prominent ticking sound when driving

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