'78 Skylark New Weird Ticking Noise

[Pasta]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here and I literally just got the car. It's a '78 Skylark/Buick Iran with a 350 cui Chevy engine I believe. It's also running a Quadrajet carb.

The engine, the transmission, and the differential were all recently rebuilt and the car ran perfectly before driving about 430 miles home yesterday.
When I arrived home, it was smoking a ton of oil out the back and I was shocked as to why it was doing that. I popped the hood and saw that the corner of the valve cover on cylinder #1 was leaking out some oil and it was dripping right into the exhaust header of that cylinder. I tightened the valve cover and it stopped the leak. I tried to tighten the headers but the two bolts for that cylinder were stripped and I put some new bolts in with some PTFE tape to kind of hold that port along with the power steering pump bracket. It's kind of holding it until I can get it fixed.
And now, there is a ticking noise coming from that exact same side of the cylinder. It sounds just like my Mitsubishi Galant with the 4G63 DOHC engine when it had a bad hydraulic lifter.

Do you all think this ticking sound could just be from a bit of exhaust leak by the side of the headers gasket of that cylinder or could it be some other serious thing like a bent pushrod or a collapsed lifter (if these even have one?).

I have videos of the engine running and revving before and after this problem. I will upload in a short bit

Thanks folks ❤️

 

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This is the Google Drive link to the videos folder:

Buick - Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[LARRY70GS]

What's a Buick Iran? Does it have the stock exhaust manifolds or exhaust headers? An exhaust leak can absolutely sound like a bad tick. Have you checked the oil level?

You can't upload video, you have to host it on a site like Youtube, then link it here.

 

[Pasta]

What's a Buick Iran? Does it have the stock exhaust manifolds or exhaust headers? An exhaust leak can absolutely sound like a bad tick. Have you checked the oil level?

You can't upload video, you have to host it on a site like Youtube, then link it here.

Yes, it has the stock manifold.
I also noticed that it was misfiring sometimes so that could be causing the issue too. Need to repair the starter first and then I'll get to these. Also needs new plugs and wires.
And yes, the oil level is full. I had just changed the oil and oil filter before I went on the trip. I am sure it has not starved of oil.

It was made back when GM owed Iran (specifically GM Iran) money so they made about 40,000 units of GM cars in Iran at around the 70's.

Mine has a 4-speed manual with a Rochester carb and a Chevy 350 cui engine. It's the rare B5 trim so it has power windows on all 4, sporty factory rims, leather roof, a 3-spoke steering wheel, power steering, power lock doors, and non-bench seats (I really donno what you would call a normal seat lol). Some other trims like the B1, B2, B3, and the B4 had different features and stuff like some had automatics, some had a V6 and other lower displacement V8s.

I have the videos uploaded but they're awaiting moderator approval.

 

[LARRY70GS]

Wow, learn something new every day. Where is the car located now? Usually what happens is the exhaust manifold bolts seize and break off. Never heard of them getting stripped. Would like to see some pictures.

 

[G-924186]

Wow, learn something new every day. Where is the car located now? Usually what happens is the exhaust manifold bolts seize and break off. Never heard of them getting stripped. Would like to see some pictures.

Well I'm in Iran and obviously the car is here too.
It's got a lot to go. Need to fix the taillights and the headlights a bit as they're sagging. Some touch ups on the paint and bodywork.
Just put some new Autolite plugs and good wires, getting a new distributor cap, a new starter, and cleaning up the engine bay.

I put it in the hands a good mechanic that only works on American cars in here and he's doing all the heavy lifting 🙂

I will add some pictures to the same Drive link.

 

[LARRY70GS]

Iran, I was afraid to ask. 🙂 I'm sure it is a challenge to fix or maintain an American car there. If you were here, you could order a drop in 400+ HP small block Chevy engine right out of a catalog.