Ticking Noise Under High rpms
 

I have a 94 SE, and recently noticed a ticking that I first assumed was lifters, used the screw driver and heard nothing to help me narrow it down. I had a similar problem with another car and in the long run it ended up to be a couple bad/spun rod bearings. Wanting to avoid that problem I went ahead and change all the rod bearings and for 125000 they actually looked quite good, just a couple rough spots on two of them but everything else looked fine. Checked the clearences with some Plastigauge and I'm right in the middle of the range. I don't hear a thing when I start the car or when the rpms are under 2000 or when I rev it up slowly. If I rev it quickely, or when I'm accelerating, once the rpms are up to about 2000 I hear a rather anoying tick that sounds almost exactly like a lifter tick. No oil additives/cleaners have seemed to make a difference with it either. Also when the rpms are over 2000 even up to 3000 when I'm slowing down like in 2nd or 3rd gear (foot of the gas) I don't hear it then either. Being that it's not rod bearings and not lifters (at least from listening with a screw driver) what could it be? And how do I fix it?

Perhaps a exhaust leak? Or are you sure it's a metallic clicking.

It sounds like a metalic click, but from reading some other threads it sounds like and exhaust leak can sound like that too. Whats a good way to check?

Have you ever done a seafoam on your car? From what I've heard smoke will come out from any leaks and you will see it.

Check your exhaust manifold for leaks, seafoam is good way to start or you prolly could use water.