Dirtbuster1

I took my truck by the engine machine shop this week! I was tired of hearing a knocking noise on the passenger side engine. I cranked the truck up so they could listen to it, before I started work on the engine. 2 of the shop guys looked at each other the minute that I cranked it, and they started laughing at each other. They said you have an exhaust leak. I said no way.

Friday night I decided it was time to fix the manifold leak. I removed the inner fender cover, and started removing the manifold. I took around 20 minutes to get it off. After removing the manifold, I starting removing the broken stud that was causing the leak. After removing it with a small pipe wrench, I thought I was good to go. Then I started counting the studs that I removed, and found 1 stud with a nut on it. The stud broke off up in the head. This was the also on the same cylinder as the other broken stud. After trying to drill & tap the broken stud out for 2 hours, I finally said the hell with it. I put everything back together minus one stud, and the knock is gone.

I have heard of everybody talking about this knocking noise on the 97-03 5.4 engines. I guess I am lucky that it was nothing more than exhaust leak, but I never would have believed that was the problem. I hope this will help someone else in finding their knock!

xllxll_VIPER_llxllx

I had the same problem..... now its all gone now and replaced with new manifolds and a life time warranty

jgh64pkup

does it sound like valvetrain

Dirtbuster1

It is a metallic sound, like a lifter. I think that the sound is amplified by exhaust pressure running thru a double metal exhaust gasket.

jgh64pkup

thats what i thought it sounded like
but i thought it might be a bent valve
i hope this fixes it