Could I have bent a valve?

[BonesDT]

I messed my truck up bad trying to get unstuck in snow. First of all, I cracked my radiator - probably from ramming into the snow bank in the first place. Then in multiple efforts to reverse out in 4wd Low, I realized my tach & temp gauges were maxed out.

I've been having rough starts since. At first, I thought it was a dead battery (although I have a Optima Yellow Top) and after being jump started, it started up right away. But the engine is making a ticking sound when it runs. I just went out tonight after letting it rest for 2.5 days, it started up the first time (sounded like it took one extra crank than normal), I heard the ticking sound, turned it off after a few minutes, and it wouldn't start up again. The starter sounded like it was reving very fast, so I don't think I have a weak battery.

Are these symptoms of a bent valve or some other engine problem? If I do have a bent valve, is it a bad idea to commute because it will get worse and eventually break down for good?

 

[mojoe]

ticking sounds like timing chain, valves are more of a tapping, have someone knowledgable look at it, might just be timing tensioners - might have warped the heads if you got it too hot. Adequate cooling requires adequate air flow through a full and fully functioning radiator. Watch those guages.