The Z has developed a tick, and wondering if I exacerbated the cause with FI or an over-rev...

I can pinpoint it to an engine noise and not drivetrain/clutch: the noise is consistant with the rev of the motor, either clutch in or clutch out. The noise is cyclic as such: "ti-tic-tick-tick-tick....(1½ second silence)...ti-tic-tick-tick-tick....(1½ second silence)... *repeat* "

Not loud by any means, but the loudness of the ticking increases as the # of ticks progress, then completely ceases for 1 and 1/2 seconds, then repeats. I can hear the sound *better* from under the car, but then again the valvetrain is noisy up top, so no real help there. The front pulley is VERY wobbly, and I have some oil dumping from the front seal, but oil levels have been closely monitored and always around 5 - 5½ qts.

Happens cold or warm. This is a recent sound, within the past couple weeks I imagine... running Mobil synth. 10-30, religious about oil changes.

I figure if it were a rod, the noise would not be variable. So... maybe something in the valvetrain? Timing chain? Crank pulley? Been searching the site the greater part of the morning trying to discern the likelyhood of major engine drama...

Any help is appreciated - TIA!

EDIT: The *silence* interval is at idle; interval decreases as RPMs increase, but there is an interval nonetheless

 

If the crank pulley is wobbly as you described, that's the first thing you need to address. See if, after rectifying that condition, the noise subsides. If not, it may be something serious (as if the wobbly front crank pulley was not serious enough). Good luck.

 

you can get an automotive stephoscope, it may help narrow down the noise, i know it works for pushrods

 

your oil leak is from the wobbly crank pulley which stretches the oil seal...you'll probably need a new pulley cuz i think yours is cracked...i've seen it happened in a Z before. Time to place it with a light weight one piece underdrive pulley.

 

It's being replaced with a Fluidampr crank pulley - just trying to coordinate a time to have it done. In the meantime, trying to isolate the ticking...

 

It may be the rods, but im not sure