3k rpm at 45 mph in 5th gear. feels high to me

TO all those with SE's or anyone that may know... what is normal rpm range manual transmission for speed?

I feel like my Rpm's are way too high.

in 5th gear at 45mph I am already at 3k rpms

i am around 4k rpms around 60 mph in 5th gear.

It could be clutch but I highly doubt it. Clutch was replaced less then a year before i rebuilt the engine.  Clutch also feels strong and thick.

I believe it to be more engine related.

not sure if related but experiencing ticking noise under load.  the engine makes a ticking noise only under acceleration and only when I'm driving.  If I'm revving it at a stop it does not make the noise. 

Can anyone tell me there normal rpm to mph range and tell me what my problem may be?

The 4 cylinders run 2x speedo vs tach in 5th gear - so 60 mph runs 3k rpm. the SE's run lower rpms than that. So to me the only way you can be running higher rpm's would be a slipping clutch - or your tach is reading wrong - but sounds like you are saying it also sounds like it's running too fast. Seems to me you should be at about 3k at 70 mph for the 6 cylinder.

I find I get the same RPM's in the CA18ET and the SE, trannies are the same ratios far as I know. So at 60 it's getting to 3k, at 75 I see 3.5k if my memory serves me...I am in the middle of a timing belt replace and other deferred maintenance, or I would go drive it to be sure.

Last I remember, 4th gear I hit 3k rpm around 45 - 50mph and 5th gear I would hit 3k around 70+  VG30's power band starts at 3k rpm's and stops around 5500 - 6k and iirc, 3k is when it opens up the motor and it swallows fuel like a thirsty dog.

Ticking noise is most likely your injectors working, sounds like the timing might just be off a little, try advancing the timing a tad?