1997 Dodge Ram single cab short bed, 5.9 Gas, 4x4, 169000 miles, currently a problem child.

So I had a thread awhile ago with a couple snapped exhaust manifold studs and another with a plenum leak, both were what I thought, the cause of an inconsistent tick whenever the truck is running. So I also thought it could be lifter tick because I was told so, but I also went and tightened like three or four rockers, started the truck, and the tick wouldn't come up until about thirty seconds into it. Then I'd check the rockers and the same ones were loose again. So would that be lifters going bad? I pulled all of them already and they seem fine, but they were very stiff and tough to get out, when I was told it should just slide out. The rockers are pretty gunked up so I'm cleaning those right now, along with the push rods, and the cam looks fine.

I'll have to post a picture later on my break, but what I think is the head gasket, part of it that sticks out, is torn and its right where a push rod would be. Looks like it might be interfering with the pushrod but also doesn't look like to big of a deal. Is it a big deal if I cut that little part of the gasket out? It looks like overhang...again I'll post a picture later.

I got lifters, more intake gaskets, spark plugs, spark plug wires, and some other not needed things on the way and should be here this weekend. My deadline is a mud bog coming up so I'm trying to get everything together by Saturday haha. If lifters don't fix the tick, I'm just gonna send it. If its a big enough problem it will make itself known lol.

Again, questions: 1. Would Rockers coming loose cause an inconstant tick? and would new lifters solve that, if the rods and rockers are in good shape and cleaned up?
2. Is the overhang on a headgasket important? As in, if I cut out a small portion because its already torn, on the overhang, would it make a difference?
pictures in next reply from myself

Thanks in advance for any advice.
-Jake

 

If the rocker bolts are coming loose, replacing lifters isn't going to fix that.
You can cut off the bit of gasket you dislike, and not hurt anything.

 

Check for a loose timing chain with that many miles also.

 

Okay, but would it cause an inconsistent tick? Either the rocker or lifters?
I also was told about maybe it being my flex plate bolts, the truck had a built trans put in less than five hounded miles ago so I was thinking maybe to check that. Does anybody have a video or anything explaining how to check those?

 

Gotta pull the starter, and then the dust cover over the bell housing. (from underneath) You will see one or two, tighten one, turn the motor a bit, do the next one, and so on.

 

I'll do that tomorrow or wednesday maybe, but the motor's had a tick for awhile now, and theres a mud bog coming up so I think I'm gonna send it weather its ticking or not next weekend.
Worst case scenario if it is a flex plate bolts loose and I still send it? What would break? It ran and drove into where it is now, and it drove with a tick for about a week.

 

Good scenario just your flex plate, worst scenario flex plate and torque converter.

 

Doesn't sound fun, but I am yet to learn about transmissions so maybe that'll work out somehow.

 

I know these beasts have a love/hate relationship with their PCV valves, they like to click or whistle at idle. Try capping or pulling the PCV n see if the problem changes.

 

Both can be done by removing the engine which in my opinion is easier then the transmission