Need some advice. Fully built engine. Rod tick?

[TJs91tsi]

Hey guys. Ive been a member here since September of '06, and well this is my first post. Turns out that search button really does work! But now i need "points" so i can post in the classifieds and elsewhere on the site. Now i need some advice...

Here's my problem. I bought a '91 Talon Tsi AWD 7 months ago. Did an auto to manual swap using a 1996 gsx transmission. Got it running then found chunks in my oil pan while eliminating the balance shafts... Sooo I pulled the engine, and completely built it using
Manley I beam Rods,
.020 over Ross racing pistons, ceramic coated tops /molibdinum disulfide coated skirts.
ACL race rod and main bearings,
ARP head studs, main studs and rod bolts.
Cometic MLS Head gasket,
3 angle valve job,
revised lifters,
Only OEM gasket set,
OEM Water pump
OEM Timing components
Fidanza 3.2 clutch,..etc
FMIC short route
3" GM maf and Maf translator


I had all my rods, the crank and pistons, pins checked by a machine shop and all checked out good.

I built it, put it all back together and, going by Ross reccomendations, used NON detergent oil on break in. I drove it a dozen miles, changed the oil... I varied the rpms, always downshifted, (always do) Then toward about 300 miles I began getting on it a little harder, full throttle for short periods of time, higher rpms etc... No redlining. boost was set at 9psi.
Then, at about five hundred miles, at idle I noticed a very slight ticking noise. I pinpointed the noise using a copper tube. I BELIEVE its coming from the #4 rod bearing. I disconnected the fuel injector and i believe the noise diminishes when removing only the #4 injector.

So my question is what should i do? Is there a way to truly verify before pulling the pan? Is it possible that getting on it with non detergent oil could have hurt a bearing after so few miles? Could it have been a "bad" bearing? Should I just pull the pan, inspect and replace the bearings? Would going to a better oil solve or hide the problem? Is it possible I caught it in time and could "get away" with new bearings?

I HATE tearing down the engine I meticulously put together but if thats it, and no one has any other ideas, please let me know.

Oh and oil pressure and volume was always perfect. I primed the pump with grease, and cranked it till the light went off on startup.

What would you do???? Im looking for profesional opinions.

Thank you so much guys. Sincerely, Tyler

 

[gpz750]

If you are sure the noise is from the bottom end as you say. I would dig in and check it out. The pan is easy enough to pull off. Might check and see what the thrust clearance is while you are at it.

 

[gpz750]

On the oil note, I'm not sure about the non-detergent, as I have never run any in anything other than my air compressor. One thing to keep in mind is all the oil changes over the past 10 years or so. In general the oil companies have been forced to take most or all high pressure additives out of the normal oil. It's always a good idea to break a motor in with some kind of oil treatment that has theses additives in it. Several companies now sale break in oil just for this reason. Without the high pressure additives you can potentially sieze cams, wipe out thrust bearings etc within the first 500 miles.
Don't ask me how I know all this.