I have a similar issue to original post. My situation is self induced and I am so upset about it.
Background: Last year I bought a 2000 Taurus w a blown motor. I purchased a new crate engine for a hell of a deal - Only $400 for the shortblock! I install the engine in said Taurus. With new/reman heads. I put maybe 4000 miles on the car that runs perfectly and wrap it around a tree.
Heres some photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3egw8d1vicfkqwp/9p2Tf2tMgE
I found a 94 Mazda B3000 with a dead motor this year. I pulled the motor from the totalled taurus, changed over the timing cover, oil pan and pump, intake etc - but FORGOT about the different head gasket design. (I knew about it but totally slipped my mind).
I get the motor fired up and everything runs decent. I start driving the truck and notice a power loss and then I develop this "tick" when the truck heats up. I then remember the head gasket difference and am terrified if I have scorched my engine. I just changed out my head gaskets and reinstalled everything. My beautiful brand new engine with less than 5,000 miles on it now starts up with a puff of smoke out the back but runs like a champ. After it warms up the motor develops a tick or a slight knock. It doesnt do it during driving, it just becomes really noticeable at idle, at operating temp. I was SO disappointed. I figured the excessive heat of the improper coolant flow with the old head gaskets on the motor must have caused some excessive wear on the components somewhere and that the viscosity of the oil after heating up was too thin with the 5w20 recommended. I just tried out 20w50 and the same thing still happens.
I am hesitant to tear the top half of the motor down AGAIN and am considering cutting my losses. If I was going to keep the truck I would just drive it without a care - but I need to sell it! If I have a rod knocking - Im done - I'll dump the truck. If its a lifter - I think the valve covers and intake can come off and they can be pulled out with a good magnet.
Anyone know what the most likely culprit is? Have I scorched the heads and the valve guides and thus the smoking when cold? (If the heads are bad - I dump the vehicle for a loss)
A lifter? I can fix, provided the heads dont have to be removed.
A rod? Dump the truck for a loss.
I've read on this board about the distributor ticking/knocking?
It saddens me that I neglected the gaskets and think I scorched my perfect motor. Being such a new motor, I think it eliminates a lot of the wear issues etc.
Any help?