Tracy, I agree with all of the comments posted. I would also like to point out that you will always hear a slight ticking sound from the cylinder head, even when the valves are adjusted properly. They will never be as quiet as an engine with hydraulic lifters. On a 30 year old engine, you can expect the rocker arms and shafts to have some wear on them that will add to the valvetrain noise. But, that doesn't mean they need replacing. On the other hand, very loud ticking or knocking sounds need attention. The trick is to tell which is which. Dan

By Jarcaf (Jarcaf) (207.55.238.216) on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 01:48 am:

True...very true. Definitely get your valve lash adjusted(don't forget about burned exhaust valves), but there are several areas that could create a ticking sound. It helps to locate the general area of a sound by holding a dowel or long screwdriver just in front of your ear and holding it to different bolts and parts of the engine.

By John S. (66.143.45.180) on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 11:58 pm:

I will also add this however...
When you've finished THAT job and the motor SOUNDS the way it is supposed to, You will feel really good about yourself.
Another aside...
Many years ago I pulled up next to a 4-door Corvair in a gas station, to get fuel. The owner was inside at the time, and the car wasn't running, but it caught my eye because it was in good shape for a 20+ year old Corvair. No visible rust, and what was there, and was out of sight had been repaired in the "aircraft manner" which is to say aluminum patch panels shaped for perfect fit, pop riveted into place.
While I was getting my gas, this old geezer...90 year old geezer I found out, came out and started the car, then got back out of it to do something else...I was shocked that you couldn't hear the engine running...no B.S...standing next to it you could not hear it running. First time in my life I had EVER heard a Corvair that didn't sound like it was in the process of self sacrifice. So I told him that fact...turns out he was a retired machinist...all of his life a machinist. He told me about working on Maxwells with pistons 6" in diameter, etc., but when I asked him how he got the motor to run so quietly he looked at me, kind of smiled and said, "If you can hear it, it's trying to tell you something."

By John S. (66.143.45.180) on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 11:35 pm:

You need a manual, because the cam must be setting in a certain position to adjust certain valves. You can't figure this out without the manual, and if you do it wrong you can bend a valve, lunch a cam lobe, and on some cars even worse damage. Do your self a favor, get a manual, and find someone willing to show you how to do it the first time. Believe me it will take many attempts the first time starting out to get them right. Or, take it to someone who knows how to do it already.
I wouldn't want to discourage you from doing it yourself, but it IS the kind of thing we all have needed help with the first time around, and it takes practice to become good, i.e. fast and accurate at it.

By bruce (70.104.107.13) on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 03:04 pm:

adjust your valves.......you have to do it when the engine is cold, grab a book and a good set of feeler gauges, a 12mm wrench and a flathead srewdriver and dive in.

By Tracy (Rx7speed) (172.144.95.214) on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 02:42 pm:

I'm getting a tickety tickety noise from the top half of the motor. yes I know not the greatest way to describe it but it's the best I can do :D
only thing I can think of is something with the rocker arms on the car (76 accord). these little cars you do have to adjust the valve lash on them correct? if so could that be why I'm getting this noise or would you think something is broke/bad?
and on the valve lash if you do have to adjust it how do you adjust it?