Engine noise
 

I have a 83 F150 302 V8 AOD transmission. When I start up the truck it runs ok, but when I put it in drive I start to hear a ticking noise that to me sounds like a lifter. Its hard too tell where it coming from for sure because it only ticks when I am driving the truck.

Is the tick related to wheel speed or engine speed? Have you ever adjusted the TV cable, or replaced the grommet?

https://www.supermotors.net/getfile/...blebushing.jpg

I had a tick like that once in a Suburban-mine was a cracked flex plate.

The guy that posted above me is pretty sharp, give him all the info and he can help.

The AOD transmission on my truck uses a metal rod for the TV. I can hear the noise when I have the truck in gear.

Yeah, I got that from your first post. But does the noise change speed as the tires roll faster, or as the engine revs up & down? Or is the noise constant?

the noise is constant

So the instant you shift to D, this noise starts, even before you start rolling. And it doesn't change as you start rolling, no matter how fast you drive, or what the engine RPM is - it always sounds just like it did when you were stopped. Right?

The noise changes with the rpms.

cracked flexplate.

Yep, definitely something in the front end of the transmission. You can pull the access cover (if your bellhousing has one) and inspect the flexplate, but the trans is probably gonna have to come down anyway.

With the flex plate I've had good luck with buying 2 really long bolts to replace 2 for the bell housing.Take it loose then put the long bolts in and slide the trans and converter back. then remove the flex plate and install the new one. Then slide the trans and converter back foward and bolt it up with the original bolts.

Sounds easy when you say it real fast, huh!

could there be a problem with the harmonic balancer

Sure, but it's at the front of the engine, and it's easy to see, and if it made the noise, it would make it all the time - not just in gear.

i had a ticking noise coming from there too thought it was an exhaust leak but it ended up being a loose spark plug might want to check since putting it in drive puts a little load on the engine

i had a ticking too, and i also thought it was a lifter. well, that tick turned into a violent knock over time (about a years worth) and eventually my serpentine belt flung off while i was driving...the culprit was the harmonic balancer. take the belt off and start it, see if the ticking is still there. if its not, you might wanna check the balancer out. if it is, then you can eliminate that