Knock knock knock....

[5150DSM]

Ok, so I finally got my fuel trims to stabilize at/around 100% and I got rid of the knock I was getting at WOT. My last run, I was able to get to 95+mph in 3rd with 0 knock and 24* of timing at 6700 rpm. Now I got a new problem and this one is really pissing me off because it sounds like the "infamous" phantom knock and it really fu(ks with my daily driving. In any gear, at part throttle(15-50+%) I am getting knock (8-22 counts) it starts around 2500 rpm and persists all the way up. Of course this happens only about half the time but when it is knocking the timing retard is very noticeable. My problem is very similar to other phantom knock problems I have read about, sometimes I can let of the gas and then re-engage without knock, sometimes it doesn't knock at all and sometimes there is no getting rid of it. I have richened up the SAFC settings in the 2400-4800 rpm range to little or no effect and I have ran 2 bottles of Lucas through the crankcase but the problem persists. Is there a fix for this? Does anybody have any other suggestions I can try to alleviate this "phantom" knock?
BTW- I am only pulling 15-16" of vacuum at idle, is this normal with a larger intake and exhaust set-up? Thanks for any help and/or suggestions you guys can offer.
Aloha

 

[Bohrn]

I had very similar symptoms. I finally had it tuned nicely, very low knock, good timing etc.

Then I noticed random knocking. Then it was every second run. Now its all the time.

The concensus is that I have huge carbon build up in my combustion chambers. I am going to get water injection and steam clean em up.

 

[90AWDTalon]

I've got the same problem, I just got done doing a head gasket and timing belt job. While I was doing these, I replaced the knock sensor, cam angle sensor, timing module, coil pack, and I cleaned 95% of the carbon build up off my pistons and head. None of this did any good, I'm still getting phantom knock. The only idea I have left to try is new lifters, even though when I had the head apart I noticed that I already have the revised lifters.