Need help diagnosing an issue

[matthowell19]

Hello I'm new to the forum and had some questions about a light ticking noise in my truck. It's a 1985 C10 with a 305.It is a light ticking noise when I idle or drive. When I accelerate the ticking also accelerates but sometimes it doesn't tick at all. Is it a stuck lifter? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[zieg85]

From what you describe an exhaust donut leaking could be the culprit   

[matthowell19]

Thanks for the answer I'm not much of a mechanic. How does that affect the performance of the truck because whenever I do hear that tick when I put it in drive the truck acts like it wants to.crap out, sputters but then regains power does that sound about right?

[Captkaos]

You need to isolate where the noise it coming from.  If it is an exhaust leak it won't have a major impact on performance, if it is a lifter it will.

[rich weyand]

Or he could be arcing a spark plug wire.

[cwest]

My truck has a tick too that I haven't figured out.  An old mechanic told me a trick to diagnosing that is to hold a long screw driver against the valve cover and put the other end to your ear, and then the same from the manifold.  Wherever the ticking is loudest through the screwdriver, that's your dealio.  I haven't tried it yet, but the idea seems to make sense.  You can find car engine stethoscopes too at any car parts place, same principle.     

[Captkaos]

you can use a wooden broomstick handle to do this also.

[Irish_Alley]

or a mechanics stethoscope

had a exhaust manifold gasket leak one time it also sounded like a tick