http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLvROc9uxM


thats my head gasket leaking, but its the same EXACT sound as broken studs on manifolds. . . good luck with those

 

Could be the PVC valve believe it or not.

The wrong part makes all kinds of strange noises. Make sure you have a Motorcraft valve in there. Margins are way to tight on other third party replacements.
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Try to isolate noise. With a long screwdriver or metal rod - stethoscope the noise. Could be an injector getting noisy. This method works better then you might think. - try it.

BTW- Could also be a pulley bearing.

 

i thought the exhast tick is loudest when you have a cold engine, because the metal heats up and seals the leak, that's how mine is.

 

checked manifolds, couldn't move any studs but they are rusty and afraid they would brake. What are the odds of them breaking if I take them out to replace them?
also checked the pcv and that is good and is a motorcraft. Also the sound is on the pass side around the manifolds. thinking of getting headers. ar summit headers any good.

 

Do this, take out the inner fender well, and remove the tire. Take a piece of metal and run it under the manifold and listen for a change in tone of the ticking, i will help pinpoint it.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ghne4uxtDo

 

Thats a good idea!
Im going to try that

 

what you can also do is attatch a shop-vac to the tailpipe and turn it on 'blow' them spray soapy water around the manifold and head-block surface and look for bubbles. This is what I did and discovered my head gasket was makin all the noise. It was cracked. . . Before you do this though, get the engine to temp, run it on the highway and drop gear a few times and clean out the cats. While blowing air though the system, you dont want to blow particulates into the 02's. . . and let it cool before spraying the soapy water