So theres a ticking sound that increases with acceleration. sounds like its coming from underside, not top of engine. I recently replaced oil pump, RM seal, OP gasket... primed the pump through the CP sensor drive, and replaced it after finding TDC. engine is running smooth with no engine codes.

Question: how important is it that the girdle connecting to the bottom of the bearing caps is torqued perfectly, and what is its importance exactly?

Im not sure thats the issue, but its all I can think of... Before this job, the engine was running perfectly, so I doubt anything is loose simply because I jacked it up and fixed the RM seal and OP gasket... any ideas?

 

Did you lube and torque the cap? I'm assuming you didn't since you would've also torqued the girdle. Maybe the girdle is used to strengthen the block or to dampen noise, vibration, and harshness.

Your ticking is probably a lifter that collapsed.

 

Cap was torqued to spec 80 ftLb. I found a nut left out from when I reinstalled the girdle, which I think had 12 nuts, so thats probably it. the noise comes and goes at times, and is not always a consistent sound. engine is also smooth, so its not likely a lifter.

 

The girdle was added in 1996 to address noise issues by stiffening the bottom end.