Clicking sound from engine?

[WadiaAbushanab]

Put a new exhaust system and performance was great. Previously I couldn’t climb past 3k rpm’s but after exhaust I could easily get to 5k. A few weeks later I hear a clicking coming from the engine near the headers and a huge loss of performance, back to stopping at 3k. Replaced the header gasket as I thought it was a leak. Still bad performance and I don’t know what the clicking is.

[TX82FIAT]

use a mechanics stethoscope or a long screwdriver end to ear to try to localize where the clicking is coming from. if it sounds like it is coming from under the exhaust side cam cover, I would check your valve clearances. Hopefully it is jut valve clatter. It is possible the clicking is a burnt valve related to the new exhaust heat.

[Nut124]

These engines should happily pull to 6000. If not, then something is not right.

Have you checked ignition timing? Lack of advance results in poor power and can burn an exhaust valve.