Engine Knock

Oh a REAL motorcycle shop eh? Must be GP? Will do.

So, I slid the torque converter back and the noise wasn't there like it was in the video above. Is there something that would make the knock only happen when the engine is warmed up though?

Removed the valve cover, everything looks to be normal in there, but then again Im not 100% sure what exactly to look for.

M1 mentioned the flex plate to crank bolts, I have a van here where one of the previous owners thot maybe it had a rod going, The flex plate/crank bolts were slopped out and was letting the thing move around on the crankshaft. Check for movement (by hand) between the crankshaft and flex plate. Sometimes they can even be cracked and that would be harder to tell without dropping the trans.

Im going to check it out down there some more today or tomorrow. Could a worn out torque converter also explain some of the driving problems I was having before? sluggishness etc?

possibly cracked flexplate @ crank bolts area

So, no visible wear on the torque converter and I can't hear anything unusual when I spin it by hand. Flexplate has no play when I try to move it back and forth by hand.

Tried starting the motor with the torque converter slid back again. Don't know if this means anything, but it's harder to start than normal. Then after it was running for a few seconds, I heard a nasty sounding grinding noise so I quickly shut it off.

Maybe we can get together this weekend after your 1/2 price ecology sale, Don?

Did the torque convertor slide forward and hit the spinning flexplate? tie it back into the transmission the best you can and see if the noise is still there,,,,,the torque convertor could only be getting noisy once it starts working hard to turn the trans,,,,

Well Scott,,,,, IF,,,,you got a NEW noise,,,disconnect the power from the distributer and crank the engine,,,,if you hear banging with that torque convertor hooked up or unhooked,,,,(not hitting the flexplate),,,,you are done for,,,,,do a compression test or at least hold you finger over the spark plug holes and feel if any air comes out as you crank the engine,,,,rod knocks don't have a happy ending,,,the bearing could spin and the rod can break off the crankshaft,,,so you are looking to find a piston not going up and down and if you do,,,,it's over,,,,,,,,,,

Ran out of light before I could pull the plugs and do a compression test, but here's what happened.

Pulled that torque converter back and secured it with some wire. Van started up and ran fine…noise wasnt there like before



But then after about 5 minutes of idling the knocking slowly came back! So, it seems to only be happening when the motor is warmed up.

nice use of a lawnmower!

Don, that would be so great! I am going to call around and price out a rebuild vs. a remanufactured motor. If it's not too much more, I may just go ahead and put a new motor in. If a rebuild looks more reasonable, then let's throw your old motor in in the meantime.

I will have a plan by the weekend!

hahaha, I'm not ready to give up just yet. I'm in this for the long haul….pun intended.

So looks like it's gonna be about the same price for a rebuild or a reman. engine (around $1650). If I get the new motor we can just put it in and be done with it and not have to worry about swapping your old one in and out.

BUT, let me see if I can scrounge up enough bread to pay for the damn thing…

COOL!! Racing another member!!! Nice !!

I would gladly take a cheaper option!

Well then, maybe we'll just go ahead and put your old engine in until I either save up some money, or find somethin cheaper.