score one more for ymeski... I got an auto stethoscope and gave the passenger side valve cover a good listen while the wife (reluctantly) operated the gas pedal and I was unable to hear anything like ticking or tapping. Therefore I am forced to conclude that, at this point, the noise does indeed seem to be an exhaust leak

 

so it looks like I have an exhaust manifold gasket job in my future... anyone have any tips and tricks to share? assuming the leak isn't somewhere else on the exhaust, is that worth checking?

 

Check that stupid tube that runs behind the engine. I hate that tube and it is prone to leak. I have one also and I suspect that stupid piece of crap.

 

Its either manifold to block, or mani to y-pipe. Go buy a can of freeze-off, or similar liquid penetrant from an autoparts store, and saturate the bolts with it for as long as you can be patient for. Do the y-pipe ones too. If you feel the bolt getting difficult, stop and let it cool off so you dont spin weld it in place...cant think of much else.

 

My stupid tube was completely disconnected, floppin around back there

 

on my engine the stupid tube was removed (see my engine removal/oil pan/rear main seal thread) along with the rest of the smog system. The only parts of the exhaust system that were not changed at that time are the manifolds and the downpipes; I removed the cats and had the exhaust shop weld up a y-pipe because I didn't want to shell out and have them do duals. The ticking has been going on since before all that stuff so unless the pipe or manifold itself is perforated, I suspect either the manifold gasket or where the manifold joins the downpipe.

I think there's a gasket supposed to go where the manifold meets the downpipe (donut gasket?) but there were none on the truck and according to o'reilly there is no such gasket listed for the truck.

I'm unsure how ornery the manifold studs will be, I had to adjust one of them during my valve cover gasket change, and it turned without too much fuss.

 

Sorry did not realize you had remove that tube already. MY bad I don't follow all of your threads I guess.

 

no worries I didn't like the pipe there either

 

It is about as worthless as a Chevy motor in a Dodge body. Do you still have that stethoscope?

 

yup