Ping Ping-Ping ping PING

Car started pinging some at lower rpms when on the gas even a little. Timing is on as far as I can tell. It only does it at low rpms (well unless I'm really on the boost) but its set at 15psi now (raining here). Anyway, it kinda "grinds" when i engage first and same with 2nd. A little in neutral too when I rev it. Any ideas?

------------------
87 TC 5-Speed. 5.0 T-5, .030 over 2.5 stroker, balanced, blueprinted, studded and strapped. Keith Black Forged Pistons, FMS Valves & FRPP springs. Gutted Upper, knifed lower & E6, Minor Head Porting. Esslinger alum. flywheel, FMS SVO clutch & plate, Esslinger cam pulley, unorthodox pulleys, K&N, VAM Mod, ETS 3" DP, Dual 2.5 dynomax, teflon impeller'd 15k mile IHI, Brembo evolution rotors & 4-piston calipers, HPM Rear lower C. Arms, Griggs front A Arms & K Member, Max. Motorsports Caster/Camber plates, Eibach pro kit, KYB AGX Struts, Tokico shocks & quads, Full KB Subframe, PST Polygraphite all around, Lincoln LSC anti-roll bar (f), 225/50zr16's. 2kWrms Infinity/Clarion Pro Audio Sound System

"Set gillis to Kill, prepare for launch"

I don't know about the ping for the grinding in first and second The only thing that i can think of is that the syncro's are going out in the tranny. Other than that no clue. Wonder if others will agree with me on that.

My 88 TC pings under odd circumstances too. At low RPMs when the car is warmed up, it'll ping. I have to very gently feather the gas and keep it above 2200 rpm or so. BUT, if I get on it enough to boost over 2-3 psi, the pinging goes away. I have a Gillis valve set to 16-17 psi and never get any pinging at maximum boost. Just at light throttle/low RPM.

The car runs cool, timing is at 10 degrees with the SPOUT plug out, I have fixed a vacuum leak, changed the O2 sensor, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel pressure regulator--all with Motorcraft parts--, have no unusual EEC codes, etc. I used Techron a few times and had an intake cleaning done where they hooked up a detergent of some sort (mostly water, I think) to the fuel rail to get the carbon out. It has improved tremendously, but it still pings a bit. It drives me nuts, but at least I have it under control to the point that I can get it to not ping by driving it right, and what little bit it does still do probably isn't much to worry about.

Let me know if you're able to figure it out! Also, don't rule out crappy gas if it just started happening.

here). Anyway, it kinda "grinds" when i engage first and same with 2nd. A little in neutral too when I rev it. Any ideas?

Clutch may not be releasing fully, thus causing some minor gear clash.

------------------
1987 TC Black out, red in. Tag: TC BIRD 7.
1963 Jag Mark 10 getting 5.0 transplant.
1975 MG Midget. wife's car.
2001 PT Cruiser. Hey, its retro!
fave quote:"No man is a failure who has friends." Clarence the angel.

the tranny doesn't grind..thats kinda what the pinging sounds like...really short quick "easy" pinging. was trying to describe the noise. its pinging for sure tho.

------------------
87 TC 5-Speed. 5.0 T-5, .030 over 2.5 stroker, balanced, blueprinted, studded and strapped. Keith Black Forged Pistons, FMS Valves & FRPP springs. Gutted Upper, knifed lower & E6, Minor Head Porting. Esslinger alum. flywheel, FMS SVO clutch & plate, Esslinger cam pulley, unorthodox pulleys, K&N, VAM Mod, ETS 3" DP, Dual 2.5 dynomax, teflon impeller'd 15k mile IHI, Brembo evolution rotors & 4-piston calipers, HPM Rear lower C. Arms, Griggs front A Arms & K Member, Max. Motorsports Caster/Camber plates, Eibach pro kit, KYB AGX Struts, Tokico shocks & quads, Full KB Subframe, PST Polygraphite all around, Lincoln LSC anti-roll bar (f), 225/50zr16's. 2kWrms Infinity/Clarion Pro Audio Sound System

"Set gillis to Kill, prepare for launch"

I heard mine pinging for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago...I always run 93-94 octane and prem switch on...but it pinged !

I think it's possible to get a bad tank of gas every now and then. In fact, I know some people that work in the corp office of a conv. store chain...they tell me sometimes the tanker drivers will fill the premium tanks with reg gas if that station's reg tanks are full already !!! So you're not always getting 93-94...it could be 82 octane !

------------------
Dan Eaves
88TC 5spd, Crower 5.5" Sportsman Rods, Short Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Ported Head with Polished Combustion Chambers, Gutted & Polished Upper, Ported & Polished Lower, Polished T/B, Ported E6, SVO T3 .63AR Turbo, 3" DP w/No Cat, 2 1/2" DynoMax single cat back w/DynoMax Super Turbo Muffler, RR Cam, K&N in Fenderwell, Gillis Boost Valve, Centerforce I Clutch, Removed A/C, Polished Wheels, Polished Valve Cover, Polished Crank and W/P Pulleys, Walbro 255LPH HP Pump, Kirban Adj FPR, and the DAMN Heater Core is new too !

NATO MEMBER (Vice Chairman...if it's a vice...I deal with it)

If you are getting low rpm/low demand pinging
that is usually bad gas or low octane gas, as Dan mentioned.

------------------
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, Main TC with K&N, 3"DP to 2.5"duals through Dynamax, Ric valve at 17+ and disconnected KS.
Elite Bodega 16" chrome wheels. Autometer pod w/ A/F and Vac/boost gauges.140 mph Motorsports Speedo New engine: Total Seal rings and TRW pistons, ported and polished head w/ cc'd chambers,1.59"exhausts, SS valves, gutted upper, knife edged lower, A-230 cam, Race Engineering Adj Cam Sprocket, Crowlers, ARP head studs, and rod bolts. Walbro 255 HP pump and Kirban adj FPR, T-3. Centerforce II, KB subs and jack rails.

Well whatever it was it stopped. As did the motor. Dead as far as I can tell. It died in a cloud of oil smoke. Cranks and starts but smoke blows everywhere and hardly runs. Time for a 5.0..or a new car.

Yikes! I'm sorry to hear that. Was your temp gauge acting funny by any chance? A bad head gasket could cause overheating, and the temp gauge would fluctuate. Overheating would cause it to ping, which would make the head gasket get worse really fast at which point you'd have a big smoke cloud out the exhaust. Look for oil in the coolant and vice versa. Also take the radiator cap off and start the car. If it blows air out the radiator, it's the head gasket.

sorry to hear that path...i was going to post a reply telling you to watch your head gasket...i had same happen to me last year...from what i understand after speaking to many a ford tech,these cars have a history of developing minor head gasket cracks or splits(for some unexplained reason) which can contribute to the car pinging...after a while (or sometime sooner in your case)the engine goes.I had same exact problem you had and had everyting fixed,replaced,tested,poked and proded and still found no reason for car to ping...then one day whlie merging on parkway BOOM!!...head gasket failure...limped home on three cylinders...like a wounded dog...well best of luck to ya...i rebulit mine couldent part with the car...hope yo u do the same if cars worth it to you...keep us posted..eric

------------------