86 GT knocking.... sort of

Alright heres the problem. My 86 has a knock but not all the time. some times it does and some times it doesnt at all. my friends think it might be a lifter tapping or sticking. I'm not sure but i think it might be spark knock as the fuel filter is the original that came on the car. I cant get the damn thing off though without breaking the fuel line so i have givin up 4 now. Any Ideas?

is it mnore of a ticking than a knocking? or is is like a banging type of knocking

its more of a loud ticking than a knock. sounds like it is coming from the top end near the no. 1 cyl. (right side). i filled it with premium gas last week and haven't heard it since. BTW nice ride!

lol check your rotar on ur distributor, i thoguht i had knock once due to a failed rotr

thanx man that might be it because it backfires also. i thought the timing seemed off because it is kinda sluggish at take off but revs quick after about 2500 rpm. i know it is running lean at high rpm because the fuel filter really does need changed. lol thanx for the info.

oh dude deff change your ignition system then...lol a new cap rotar wires and plugs make a car feel like its brand new

yea ive change the cap, wires and plugs but not the rotor. that will be next along w/ the fuel filter. lol thanx for the help man

YEAH!!!!!!!!
hey man just wanted to say thanx for the info. I replaced the rotor button on the distributer and it runs amazingly. Hard to believe a $3 part would cause such a dramatic improvement in performance. I do have another problem though. My fuel filter won't come off no matter how hard I try. I was looking at the filter and it does'nt have any writing on it. LOL The new one looks just like it but it has stuff printed on it. Does this mean that this is the oem filter that came on the car 20 years ago? It is siezed onto the fuel line so it wouldnt surprise me if this is the case.