Top end clatter / lifter tick?

[cmb]

Yes, the tick follows the engine speed. It will increase in rate if I bring the revs up past idle. The idle is smooth. Engine never stumbles, and doesn't sound like it's missing.

A couple of you have asked about the flywheel. How might this contribute to the noise? I don't have any particular reason to believe that it's ever been replaced -- does that mean it's the dual-mass part?

It's difficult to tell from the video, but the sound certainly seems to come from under the cam cover (at cyl #2) rather than from something external at the front of the engine.

I'll check out the belt tensioner. Is the thought that the tensioner itself might be bad, or that the belt tension is causing some other problem?

I'm in Merrimack, NH.

[XfireZ51]

Throw some Marvel Mystery oil into oil. Let it run through. See if lifter quiets down.

[We Gone]

Lifter or maybe a bad valve spring?

[KILLSHOTS]

Originally Posted by cmb

Yes, the tick follows the engine speed. It will increase in rate if I bring the revs up past idle. The idle is smooth. Engine never stumbles, and doesn't sound like it's missing.

A couple of you have asked about the flywheel. How might this contribute to the noise? I don't have any particular reason to believe that it's ever been replaced -- does that mean it's the dual-mass part?

It's difficult to tell from the video, but the sound certainly seems to come from under the cam cover (at cyl #2) rather than from something external at the front of the engine.

I'll check out the belt tensioner. Is the thought that the tensioner itself might be bad, or that the belt tension is causing some other problem?

I'm in Merrimack, NH.

When I bought my car, it had bad injectors, which caused a misfire and a slightly rough idle, which in turn caused the dual mass flywheel to rattle...all very common on early cars which still have the original injectors. It sounded like a rod knock or a spun main bearing. That rattle was completely inconsistent with engine speed; revving it a bit made the rattle stop. From both the sound I hear in your video and your description, I'd say there's no chance that it's the DMF.

[KILLSHOTS]

Also, that is not the belt tensioner. Mine was bad and I had Marc rebuild it. It does not tick like that...mine made a high-pitched whining/squealing sound.

[RyanChappel]

injectors sounds very scary...I loaded up mine a few years back and took it ot Marc for new Accels...I was actually relieved that it wasn't what it sounded like...a spun main or rod bearing...first ocurred on a slow drive about town..