loud noise doesnt go away

[davidgoss]

Ok so i have this really loud noise coming from the valve cover it sounds like a really really loud lifter tick. The thing is is that it doesnt go away while driving and gets louder with rpm. And the car has a huge lack of power and is running really rich. I just changed the head gasket and replaced the oilpan gasket. there was no metal in the oil, and this noise wasnt there before i did this. i have done a number of timing belts and have never had this problem. but i did put in a new cas and wired it in. Oh and the car is running really rough at an idle too. does anyone know what i should do or where i should start? it a 97 with a 6 bolt swap..
thanks, david

 

[tcpx]

spun rod bearing?

 

[davidgoss]

no i checked it when i had the pan off they look fine. its not that kind of a knock

 

[turboglenn]

Did you have the cams out for any reason? I know that if your lifeters are allowed to fully extend and you don't collapse them before putting them back in you can have the valves hit the piston on startup.

Now if they were collapsed and haven't fully pumped back up, they will clack something terrible and you'll lose power because they aren't opening the valves all the way.

What kind of things have you checked since hearing the noise?

 

[davidgoss]

no i never had the cams out during all of this. i havent tried anything yet ### im not sure where to start... im pretty sure that the timing is dead on still i havent looked at it since it has been running

 

[91 Turbo Mitsu]

This may not be your problem but my car was making a similar sound and I thought it was lifter tick. I pulled the valve cover and went to turn the cams with a wrench and noticed the exhaust cam gear slipping back and forth. Somehow the bolt loosened slightly and allowed the gear to shift back and forth on the cam. It did it for two days and ruined the end of the cam and gear. Just a thought for something else to check. Travis

 

[turbolover10]

I'm having similar problems, I didn't have metal in my oil/oil pan and I inspected the cams with my valve cover off and nothing seems to be out of place, "like a rocker arm or loose bolt like said above."
My knocking also starts at about 2-3k and gets worse as rpms increase...
First have you looked at the cams/rocker arms?
Have you considered the balance shaft?? Does the car still even have it?

 

[davidgoss]

ya thats the first thing i did was check to see if a lifter has fallen off and i dont see anything wrong with it. no the engine has no balance shafts. this motor is a slowboy block.
thanks for the reply anything else i should check?

 

[turbolover10]

I would say before you start pulling things apart to get a stethascope and try to find out exactly where the knock or tick is coming from, "this was suggested to me."
You could also pull the spark plug wires one by one and if the knocking stops you know it has something to do with that cylinder.
After that I would probably drain the oil and look for shavings, then drop the pan and see if there's any bearing material etc.. in the bottom
Check all the rods wiggling them to see if one has more play then the others. Pull the rod caps and inspect the bearings and obviously make sure the rods arn't bent..

 

[davidgoss]

ok i tried doing a cylinder balance test and the noise never went away at any cylinder. i did take off the pain to replace the gasket and didnt see anything in the oil. so i took off a main cap and didnt see any major wear on the bearings of thrust surfaces. im pretty sure that the rods arent bent ### it just started making this noise, and they are eagle rods with weisco pistons. the only other thing i can think of would be crankshaft endplay is to much. does a 6 bolt have crank walk? if so what would it sound/look like?
thanks for your help

 

[turbolover10]

Any motor can crankwalk 6 bolts are just less prone,
I was told to pry the crankshaft towards the transaxle and have someone push the clutch in, paying close attention to the movement of the crankshaft. Hope this helps... Good luck!

 

[davidgoss]

thanks man i will try that i think i migh try to find out how much it really does move with a dial indicator have you hear of how any one does this with it in the car?