I agree. Very obvious leaks at those cylinders. Hard to say what'* worse, that or the cracks.

It was just an uneducated guess, Bill.... I certainly didn't have much of a clue!


Glad to see you found that crack..... let us know when you're up and running. I remember what a dog that car was, so I hope this fixes the problem.

Gaskets? GASKETS????? GASKETS!!!!!!!! What gaskets? Since I have owned it, and who knows how long before that, this car never had 'em. This is my first L36, so who knew? Think that might be part of the problem? Parts house says $11for a set. Ummm.....you can start removing those stars by my name any time you are ready..it won't matter anyway 'cuz I will have shot myself by then!

You might have guessed that when I installed the new manifold the tickticktick was still there along with the KR. Might be Saturday now 'til I can do this again. Oh Jeez!

Mine had no gaskets from the factory. I installed them because I stitch-welded the outside of my flanges so I could port out the OEM weld on the inside of each port. There was a slight chance the flange warped, and I didn't feel like having it machined. Gaskets are a VERY good idea, so get some. They're made just the same as the EGR gasket.

I'll have to re-tourqe mine on the Zilla in a couple weeks, but my exhaust will have NO leaks.

OK, installed the exhaust manifold gaskets this morning and I am 99.999999% sure that I have no exhaust leaks. But what I do have is a tick..tick..tick...same sound as before, and a bucketload of false KR. I am pretty sure this is the noise the sensors are hearing as I am hearing it too.

I made a short 30 second avi video with my camera and with the sound all the way up on the computer, you can hear the tick pretty clearly. But I don't know where I can upload it so you guys can hear it.

[edit:The sound seems to be loudest around cylinder #4. As you increase engine speed from idle it quiets down until about 2000 rpm then you start to hear it and the KS counts go crazy and the KR starts to rise.]

My, what a tedious problem this is!

Bill, I don't know what to suggest for you, but if you need any help working on this thing just let me know. Monday and Tuesday are both pretty free for me, so send me a PM if you want a hand.

Thanks, Ben. I still have to check out the overtorque possibility that Foghorn suggested, but I have a feeling it won't be long before that engine is gonna' be in the garage, on my stand, and in a zillion pieces.

I'd still be curious to see what would happen if you swapped the sensors, or perhaps even just disconnected the rear. True knock or detonation can be detected by a single sensor. Series 1 only has one in the front bank.

Tell me about the rocker instal proceedure you used after the lifter replacement. I'm also assuming you left the lifters to soak in engine oil for many hours before the instal.

I know it'* not easy to get the rear valve cover off, but it may be worthwhile doing so to check for loose rockers. It would best to step the motor through the firing order to check the rockers. To check #4, set #1 so that the exhaust valve is just closing and the intake beginning to open (TDC exhaust). That way you know both lifters are on the cam base circle for #4.

Cheers,