Possible pistons slap?

[GSXRolla]

RRRRR!!! Ok, here's the deal. After a month of on again, off again work on my '95 GSX, I finally got the new engine in and running. HOWEVER, it sounds like crap. Ok, here's some background about the engine: It's also a '95 4G63 engine, from an AT car, and it has had it's balance shafts removed, 60k on this engine.

Anyhow, it sounds almost like a VERY VERY VERY LOUD lifter, only like metal hitting metal. It will stay running for probably 3-4 minutes at a time, but I won't even try to rev it or drive it. I'm just too damn scared of messing it up even further.

Here's what we have come to:

It sounds like the sound is coming from the head, but when we use a bar or screwdriver to listen, and try and localize the sound, it ranges anywhere from the top to the bottom of the head by the #1 piston. It doesn't really sound like it's coming from all 4 cylinders, but only from that one. Is it possible that the timing's a notch off or something, or does it sound like possible piston slap? When we completely pull all the plugs, and turn it over, we don't hear any contact being made, but as soon as we fire it up, there it is. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[DSM90AWD]

Sounds to me like you skipped a few teeth on the timing belt. I'd check the timing marks to be sure though.

I f-ed up once by turning the crank the wrong way when setting TDC and had the same situation. Luckily no valves were bent.

 

[GSXRolla]

Let me go over this just so that I didn't do it wrong the first time...

The timing marks on the cam gears line up right... how would I check the rest of the marks? Remove the belt cover (below)? Now if I understand correct, the marks on both the crank sprocket and the cam gears don't line up EVERY time the ones on the cam gears do, right? I know it's hard to explain, but just because the timing marks on the cam gears line up, doesn't mean the ones on the crank sprocket will, right?

How do I check to make sure all the marks line up?

 

[turboholic]

-Remove the lower timing belt cover to be 100% sure, both cam sprockets with dowel pin at 12:00, marks line up at 3 & 9:00, when the cams are line up, the 'v' notch on the flange that seperate the balance shaft sprocket and the timing belt sprocket line up with the arrow on the front case at 2:00, the notch on the rear balance shaft with the arrow at 11:00. The flange the seperate the balance shaft and the timing belt sprocket can be installed backward = bend valve, one revolution on the cam sprocket = 2 revulotions on crank, I think you have to turn the cam 2 complete revolution (4 crank rev) for all marks to line up again.

 

[GSXRolla]

Well, I pulled the timing belt cover, and found that I have the exhaust cam off one tooth... GHEEE! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?!? I know... i didn't rotate the cam forward one tooth before applying tention to the belt. But, could that actually make that horrible metal on metal sound?

 

[jott5555]

i would check your compression just to be safe man, make sure you didnt bend ne valves.... good luck

 

[hose101772]

rod bearing?

 

[GSXRolla]

Ok, just got some compression numbers. let me know what you think.

Cyl #1: 90psi
Cyl #2: 115psi
Cyl #3: 120psi
Cyl #4: 150psi

I don't have blue smoke coming out the tail pipe, and it doens't stall out, but man is there noise. Sounds like it's coming from the top of the engine, not the bottom. I realize SOMETHING's gonna have to be rebuilt, but what am I looking at... the head? Or the shortblock?

 

[DSM90AWD]

I'm no doctor.. but me thinks your head is in need of surgury. Can do a leakdown test to be 100% sure.. but can guarantee you're goin to have to pull the head no matter what the outcome (headgasket, valves).

-John

 

[kirbstalon]

My car did the same thing yesterday, same noise and all, but my roomate just reved it up alot and the tooth that had apparently fallen off was quiet again, i am scared shitless to drive my car now, i dont have any unusual sounds anymore but i dont want to mess anything up, is there an easy way to check and make sure all is ok. I live in a dorm so i dont have access to any real tools and shit so what is the easiest way to check all this out and what do you think caused it??

 

[lowavenger96]

Better check the trnsion on the timing belt . Did you replace the belt useing the correct tools for the tensioner..

 

[kirbstalon]

bump quick i need help

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Sounds kinda like a diesel right? This happend to me when I did the head myself for the first time. Sounded like a REALLY loud lifter tick or somethin. Turned out that I had the timing a tooth off. I took it all apart and re-set the belt and voila! back to normal.

Try that