Electrical Engine making clicking sound. Spark plugs?

[Gungho]

My exhaust sound changed and I don’t have enough power. There is a clicking sound like you hear when trying to ignite a grill with the spark thing. It’s a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l engine with HEI distributor. I have cheap spark plug wires. Could this be the issue!

 

[jzak]

I would turn all the lights off in the garage tonight, then start it, and see if something is arcing.

 

[TSB8C]

Common issue with any distributor still using a rotor and cap is that the contacts in the cap and/or the tip of the rotor can become corroded from age and arcing if they have not been cleaned or replaced in some time. Certainly what "jzak" said to look for any arcing in a dark garage. That would locate small cracks/leaks in spark wire wires. Any issue with corroded contacts under the cap won't be seen however. So if nothing shows up with the "running in the dark" test, pop off the cap and examine the contacts in the underside and also the rotor itself. A small nail file or other tool to clean/polish those contacts should help if they aren't worn down too much.

 

[Turbogus]

The source of clicking in my 360 was the rocker keepers under the valve cover. Over time they had bent out of shape and the rockers themselves were striking against them. Up until I discovered this I thought I had an exhaust leak.

 

[RustyRed81]

Common issue with any distributor still using a rotor and cap is that the contacts in the cap and/or the tip of the rotor can become corroded from age and arcing if they have not been cleaned or replaced in some time. Certainly what "jzak" said to look for any arcing in a dark garage. That would locate small cracks/leaks in spark wire wires. Any issue with corroded contacts under the cap won't be seen however. So if nothing shows up with the "running in the dark" test, pop off the cap and examine the contacts in the underside and also the rotor itself. A small nail file or other tool to clean/polish those contacts should help if they aren't worn down too much.

I agree with TSBBC. Do the easy most likely stuff first. Cap, rotor contacts, Change your plug wires asap and plugs. Regarding the rockers I would make that last thing to do but if you do be prepared with new cover gasket and look at valve stems if you find rockers worn. Pray you don't.

 

[jzak]

I agree with RustyRed81 and TSBBC Too many CJ owners immediately go to the worse case scenario, instead of focusing on the easy stuff first. I had an oil leak that could have been a bad rear main seal or crankcase blowby. Turned out to be a loose breather grommet. I also had a coolant leak that could have been a cracked heater core, that was actually a loose heater hose. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.