Chattering sound from the engine

[Guest Mutley00]

The S4S was running sweet as a nut having just come back from PNM, but was then stood for about a year while I sourced some new synchro rings for a gearbox rebuild. Now I've got it back after a year, the car still runs fine, but there is an annoying chattering sound from what seems like the cam covers.

 

It is the same sound as when my old 1600E Cortina needed its tappets adjusting which I did myself, but I dont have the confidence to tackle the Lotus engine. Any ideas what it may be - I've booked it into the local 'specialist' who I've never used before as PNM are snowed under, but could do with a little forewarning of the possibilities so I dont get bulls*****d.

 

There may be a slight manifold leak  - could that be it?

 

Thanks in advancei

[Vulcan Grey]

record the sound with a cell phone...

 

If you get a leak in any port on the intake manifold, like where the tee between the fuel pressure regulator and the crank case breather, or where the charcoal canister purges into the intake manifold (near the thermostat) then you can definitely hear a chirping from the intake manifold there.

[Sparky]

Or holed exhaust manifold...

[molemot]

Yes, check the exhaust manifold first...I was convinced I had a duff little end on no.4 cylinder...turned out to be the manifold blowing!

[rizla603104]

I had the same - sounded like either a slap or a loud ting. Turned out to be a holed manifold.