Glad to hear

I didn't have a clue on the rockers, so I kept quiet - glad you were able to sort it out.

When you say "loud" - is it a ticking - check the exhaust at the points you removed. For exhaust leaks, when everything is cold. Crank the car and run your hand around those connections and see if you have a leak.

 

Thanks so much to you PM, as always.

Honestly, that's the best part about this forum, people here are 'Real experts', mature, respectful and if they don't know, they simply don't know.

Alright, I am going to check for exhaust leaks, as you have advised. Though, it's more like a ticking sound and not 'puffing' or exhaust leak( I guess?)

 

A small leak in my exhaust manifold gasket fooled me one time. It sounded like a ticking sound, didn't sound like what I thought an exhaust leak should be.

Closer to the engine it's more like tapping sound, like someone hitting a hammer on a large block of metal. Further down the exhaust pipe, towards the rear of the car, an exhaust leak sounds more like that familiar "blown-out-muffler" type of sound.