Ok. I've had my 4.2 (3.8 :0)) for about a year and a half, and so far it has been working great. Now though, there is this noise coming from the engine. Its only when in reverse and while at very slow speeds. (5mph or less) Its a ticking kind of sound. Kinda like if you put baseball cards on the spokes of a bike. Like that, but it isn't constant. One second it will be kinda loud and I'll sit at idle for a second, it will go away, then when I take my foot off the brake it starts up again until I give it some gas. Has anyone had this problem? I've got about 73,000 miles on it. I don't know hwta it is, and I don't feel like paying some schmuck $50 bucks just to figure out what it is!

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1997 Ford F-150
4.2 L V-6
Thrush Turbo Tube catback exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Window Tint
Pioneer 7000R CD player
2 Rockford Fosgate DVC HX2 10's
Rockford Fosgate 500a Amp
Lund bug shield
Vent Shade Vent Visors
GTS headlight blackouts
Bedliner
Chrome Toolbox
3" Body Lift
305/70R16 ProComp Muds
16x10 Eagle 589
Chrome Westin Nerf Bars
Custom Key racing stripes down both sides thanx to some a**hole in the HS Parking lot.
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I'm not possitive but it sounds like a rod knocking. Mine is making the same type of noise. The reason Isaid a rod is I had a '97 4.6 and it made the same sound and the guys at ford said it was a lower engine knock. Kinda sounds like a ticking when your driving. Try holding your speed at about 40mph in 3rd gear and see if it gets any louder. Mine sounds like Big Ben is about to explode.

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97 std. long bed
cat back
soon to have 4 in.drop w/4link @ panhard rod

Pretty plain mono-chrome white.