Mystery noise update...

[Jon01]

Ok, went back out and played with the car a little tonight.
Cold oil pressure is pegged, 80+ psi, warm idle in gear is 20 psi.
In neutral idling, there is a tapping noise that is clearly audible.
I loaded the chassis and started to spool it a little and the tapping went to knocking, which did NOT sound healthy. This thing used to be deadnuts quiet.
So, with this new information, can anyone help me figure out what to do with this jalopy?
The longblock only has about 8K on it, and up to this point has run wonderfully, cool(pretty cool anyways), good oil pressure, etc...
Basically, I need rebuild information and costs for a shortblock.
Can I re-use things like head bolts or main studs?
How about the oil pump?
I don't know what went wrong in this thing, went from running fine to rattling while driving down the road, hell, I didn't even get on it but once that night, over the course of 100 or so miles!
Thanks for any help guys!
Jon

 

[YGETV8]

You quote your oil pressures... are these down from previous measurements? Man... my "fresh" rebuild doesn't make 15 psi at a 750 idle fully hot!

Did you ever check your torque converter bolts? They can sound strangely like rods/crank bearings!

 

[Jon01]

No, the pressure readings aren't really down noticeably, but I haven't driven it much either-50 miles home on the highway, and those were VERY gentle miles, and a couple starts in the parking lot. That's it. Those are with 15/40 Rotella so...
I did get under it and the t/c bolts are all tight. I remember putting red loctite on them when I put the tranny back in last time.
Thanks for the help Jay!
Jon

 

[FJM568]

Hate to say it, but mine was doing exactly what you described...Except mine lasted to about 13k miles on the motor...And the problem was.......A wiped cam lobe!!! #3 exhaust lobe to be exact...


Good luck and I hope yours isn't the problem mine was...

 

[Marty]

Jon,
Get one of those stetoscopes from a parts store and start listening in different places on your motor. I have found them to be very useful.
Good Luck
Marty

 

[Mr URL]

Can start by checking cam and timing chain. I found out your car has a double roller with a stock tensioner. Maybe it ate the tensioner up.

 

[Jon01]

Yeah, I talked to Mike yesterday and he mentioned that too, but as I do more thinking, I bet that may be the growling noise I heard coming from the front of the motor way earlier on...
If it ends up coming out, that'd eliminate that problem too.
I just don't see how anything other than a bottom end problem could get MUCH louder as soon as it started to get under pressure...
Thanks for the help!
Jon