Hey, great site, great resource, I have a 3.9L 1993 Dakota- 2WD

The truck did have a ticking sound with it when i bought it, but it wasnt noticeable and i always thought it was the EGR
this weekend, went through a rough part going camping, followed a few of my 4x4 buddys out back, and needless to say; it was not an easy drive, very bumpy and even bottomed out a few time
and submerged the truck on 2 ocations up to the bottom of the doors going through very deep puddles.
Ever since that weekend, the ticking in the engine bay has grown IMMENSLY- its like driving a tank, except louder

the ticking is almost not noticeable at idle and low low rpms; but when the throttle is applied or stomped on the ticking is VERY loud, i almost want to diagnose the problem as exhaust because of the relation to the throttle.

I havnt had a chance to look at it yet, but i will be ripping it apart this weekend, does anyone have any hints as to what it could be? valves? timing chain? exhaust?

oh, the sound is coming from the drivers side of the engine bay.

any help much appreciated! Thanks!

 

I am going to offer a suggestion and I could be COMPLETELY wrong on this. But with my '66 charger, it had a clicking noise very similar to what you describe except that I could hear it, faintly, when at idle. Finally found that it was the header that had a very small gap between it and the head. The clicking was the exhaust/intake valves closing. You could hear it very well when getting on the gas/at higher speeds.

I could be wrong but since you only hear it on one side of the engine and symptoms seem very similar to mine, you might look and see if you can see any holes/gaps in your manifold.

 

To me it does sound like an exhast leak. But it could be an internal engine problem. Deffintly check it out verry carfully.

 

As you guessed earlier, it could be the timing chain.
View the following: http://www.dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/09-07-97.htm

 

Could be a host of things, but checking the exhaust manifold for leaks would be at the top of my list.

Hey Duke, do you still have the 66? I have a 67 I've had for about 10 years now...it's always good to see another first gen. charger owner...there's not many of us!

 

thanks duke, i found the leak, it was the drivers side exhaust mani...