It more than likely is an exhaust leak. I can't from here tell which side but it could be both. Call one of the "D" venders up and get a set of studs, nuts, and gaskets. If you don't have experience at working on exhaust systems and/or you don't have a torch you may want to give this job out. It is not uncommon to break studs off getting things apart. David Teitelbaum vin 10757 --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Palatinus, Joe" <jopalatinus@xxxx> wrote: > Hello list, > My daily driver has about 36,000 miles on its (new crate) engine (110,000 miles on the body, and it started to perform a little sluggish, so `I decided to change the plugs, wires, cap, coil, and o2 sensor. as well as the air filter. The car still sounds + smells lawnmower like. and when accelerating I here a ticking/sputtering