1996 5.0 xlt explorer tapping noise

[Greekwhiteboy]

Hi to everyone! So my truck is making this maddening sound whenever I get around 40 mph. I bought this truck with high mileage so I figured right off the bat that it was a suspension issue. Wrong. I've replaced rear wheel bearings and seals. Rear end looked fine inside. Replaced front wheel hub assemblies along with upper control arms and lower ball joints. All of which needed replacement anyhow but tick is still there.checked drive shaft and u joints they're all good.so now I know that this is coming from the motor. After some research all I could come up with were the Piston rod bearings being worn. And since it's a singular tapping and not a rattle I would assume it's just one. Anyone know of anything else that would do this? When I rev up in park I get zero noise. Got me stumped

 

[Turdle]

The most common cause for the tapping noise is an exhaust leak from a cracked manifold on the passenger side. some leaks only sound off when the engine is under load. Try this. With the hood open, hold the brake pedal firmly, put car in drive and do a powerbrake. Not enough to spin the tires, just enough to raise things up a little, see if you hear a guy hammering from under the hood.

How about the check engine light? does it work? does it turn off after the engine runs or does it stay lit?

 

[410Fortune]

Welcome to EF lets see what we can do
I agree with Jon, the exhaust manifolds on a 96 do leak, they blow out gaskets, develop cracks, lose bolts, etc
The most likely cause of this noise would be exhaust leak, but you said its not there at idle in the drive

when do you hear the noise the most? going through a drive through with the window down? or only at 40 mph?
Assuming your 96 is AWD?
Have you checked catalytic converter heat shields for a rattle?

 

[Cuco]

 

[Greekwhiteboy]

The most common cause for the tapping noise is an exhaust leak from a cracked manifold on the passenger side. some leaks only sound off when the engine is under load. Try this. With the hood open, hold the brake pedal firmly, put car in drive and do a powerbrake. Not enough to spin the tires, just enough to raise things up a little, see if you hear a guy hammering from under the hood.

How about the check engine light? does it work? does it turn off after the engine runs or does it stay lit?

Yeah I've got a small exhaust leak for sure and I can hear it when I step on it. This is more of a tapping sound than I a tick and only around that speed(40mph) so I'm at a loss. Will be theowing in some new exhaust manifold soon so we'll see if that may be the culprit. No engine lights tho. Thanks for the feedback sorry for the delay!