About to buy another DSM but something might be wrong with it. Lifters/Rod/Rockers?!

[-DSM2NR-]

I'm about to buy another DSM and the owner informs me that the car has some weird ticking noise above 4000rpm. Would this be the lifters, rod knock, or the rocker arms? Any help is appritiated, thanks.

 

[DSMopar]

Most likely valvetrain.... but you're not being very descriptive so it could be anything...

 

[-DSM2NR-]

By the way, it's a 95. Here's the weird thing though. Today the guy let the car warm up again but there was no ticking noise whatsoever. When a rod goes is it possible for it to knock at one point but then stop knocking for a while or is it constant?

 

[Rex2342]

Usually it's constant and gets louder as rpm builds. If the price is right get it and just do a rebuild to be sure or take a chance and drive until it breaks then rebuild.

 

[turboglenn]

I had a motor built where the main bearing journals were sized wrong and it was a barely audible low pitched knock/tick at about 4k and above only.. The only way i figured it out was from experience of knowing what worn out main and rod bearings sounded like, sure enough i pulled a few mains and they were shot.

But like mentioned, you're post is not descriptive enough for a true or even close to accurate thought or guess to help you out. Sorry, maybe try and get him to make teh noise for you to hear and record it on a camera or something for us.

 

[-DSM2NR-]

That's what I'm planning on doing but here's the thing I don't understand though. If rod knock is constant why did it tick yesterday but today it didn't?

 

[92awddsm]

That's what I'm planning on doing but here's the thing I don't understand though. If rod knock is constant why did it tick yesterday but today it didn't?

Maybe because it is lifters and not rod knock?WTF

 

[-DSM2NR-]

Lifters don't start ticking only at 4000rpm+ do they....? Last time I've heard lifter tick it was during idle and not only at 4000rpm and above. If it was lifter tick I'd be glad but...I don't think it is. Like I said, I don't have the car yet. It's 200 miles away and I was wondering whether or not it's safe to drive it back home.

 

[DSMopar]

lifter tick can happen at many RPMs, in some cases its only loud enough to be audible at higher RPMs...

Could be a bunch of other things though, you didn't mention if it sounded like half the RPM or full RPM... Leaky exhaust can do the same thing...

 

[pitbull419]

Make a movie and post it

 

[-DSM2NR-]

the noise appears at half throttle and full throttle

 

[Defiant]

Look for a cracked exhaust manifold.

 

[flashburn02]

buy the car for cheap because you tell the guy "people on the forums think its rod knock." If it goes on the way home, it goes, but you got a 2g for cheap. then do a rebuild. Either way I think you win. Whats the price and mileage on the car? Rust?