I am the happy new owner of a 2004 Disco II SE with 123K miles on the chassis and 23K miles on a remanned Turner long block installed by the prior owner. Everything seems to be in good shape, save for a notable ticking noise that sounds to be coming from the upper end of the engine somewhere. Best way I can describe it is the sound of a typewriter banging away furiously. The ticking goes away after the engine warms up and I'm told the Turner engine has top hat liners so slipping liners doesn't seem likely. Slightly rough idle, but not to the point RPMs jump around, just not as smooth as when warm.

I have worked through all the fluids + filters at this point, running Rotella T4 15W40. Prior owner seemed on top of things and always ran the same on a 3K schedule.

Any likely suspects I should be checking?

 

Exhaust leak is my first guess. Sometimes a vacuum leak can do that.

 

Tick when cold that goes away when hot is usually and exhaust leak or vacuum leak in my experience.

I would put a wrench on the exhaust manifold bolts and ensure they are all sung, if you find a few are lose then that was probably your leak. Also, look at the exhaust manifold to catalytic converters flange (where they connect, accessible from under the truck), those can commonly develop leaks. Make sure not to put too much torque on them when you tighten them.

Slipping liner noise only ticks when hot, so the opposite of your noise, and you’re right that a slipped liner is not possible with too hard liners.

 

Thanks to you both - I'll pull out the wrenches and have a go.

 

I will add ticks in push rod engines are a pain all these can tick warm

Exhaust leaks
Vacuum leaks
rocker and pushrods
Lifters and pushrods
Lifters and camshaft
Bottom end

All can tick cold or warm.

I have a light tick at idle hot, goes away at 800-900 rpm something sticking or worn in the top end. It is a pretty big job to pull the camshaft and bearings so I am going to try a bit of oil flush and drop the pan next oil change and see if I get lucky.

 

The ticking that happened on my Rover V8 went away after I resealed the lower plenum to the intake manifold. It was as simple as that and I can hardly believe it.