Odd engine noise

[nicholas77586]

Hey guys,

Well I got the engine all back together and painted. I replaced the timing chain while I was in there and left the heads alone. I installed the chainset correctly as far as I know. I just installed the harmonic dampener and when I spin the engine on the crank bolt, it sounds like the valve springs are making odd noises kinda like when you get out of an old car and the spring and joints creak a little bit. Is that normal? I didnt touch the valves at all. I have to use a wrench to turn the engine..... probally 30-40ft.lbs of force to turn it if i had to guess.

[nicholas77586]

http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m228/nicholas77586/engine%20swap/

[Drake_tr7]

Wow, this is a good one. I've never heard a valve train make any kind of sound under those circumstances..I'll be interested to see how this one washes out :eyebrow:
I'll toss out a couple ideas. 1.7 rockers and left the baffle in the VC ? Real hard to screw up lining up a timing chain with the motor on the stand, so did you use a stock chainset ? (timing cover clearance)
I'd have someone roll it over and take a big screwdriver against your temple as a stethoscope and pinpoint the source of the sound :dunno:

[JBLSC]

yeah i would say make sure you have oil pressure...its possible a piece of gasket material is caught in the pickup screen causing some noise in the top end...use a big screwdriver with the handle at your ear and poke around and see where the noise is coming from...let us know what happends,at least the motor looks clean tho ha

[PETE]

if the engine is is the car,is the spacer plate rubbing on the flex plate,or is the flexplate loose also ck the convertor bolts about rubbing. if its out of the car if you had the dist out,is it seated correctly,in the oil pump splines. hope this helps

[nicholas77586]

The motor isn't in the car yet, still on the stand at the moment. I just spun the motor while installing the harmonic dampener and it makes creaking noises and I wondered if thats normal given its cold outside and the engine hasn't been ran in a long time so there is no oil on anything. I used a stock double roller chain, and I did not touch the valve or springs. I did however replace the oil pump and drive with a melling high volume unit. There is a picture of the dots aligned.

[Hizhonor]

The motor isn't in the car yet, still on the stand at the moment. I just spun the motor while installing the harmonic dampener and it makes creaking noises and I wondered if thats normal given its cold outside and the engine hasn't been ran in a long time so there is no oil on anything. I used a stock double roller chain, and I did not touch the valve or springs. I did however replace the oil pump and drive with a melling high volume unit. There is a picture of the dots aligned.

No oil?????? That's your problem. Oil it up before you do any more spinning. Install the pan and prime the oil pump!!!!!

[Drake_tr7]

Even a dry motor shouldn't make a creaking sound when you roll it over with a wrench ;)

[mustangjon]

maybe its the ghost in the machine.... :eek:

[nicholas77586]

Those were some funny responses;)

Well I pinpointed the problem to the distributor, I took it out and spun the motor and the noise stopped, and then put it back in and the noise returned but only when I tightened the hold down bolt. I ended up putting two o-rings on the base of the distributor in order to raise it up an 1/16 inch or so and now it doesn't make a noise when I tighten it down..... so what gives?

Also now that I spun the motor without the distributor in, I don't know if my timing is 180 out since I can't see the timing chain dots. How do I verify this? Do I pull the valve cover and make sure both valves are closed when the #1 piston is on its way down?

Thanks yall!!

[Drake_tr7]

Pull the #1 plug, roll it over with a finger over the hole, when she makes compression, bring it up to the mark and you're on.

[gadget73]

Prime the oil pump. If you just replaced it, the bearings are dry. Do not roll the motor over with dry bearings, it will ruin them. Oil pump can be primed either by using the special tool for the job, by using a distributor with the gear removed (which is what my tool is made from actually) or with a long extension and I believe a 1/4" socket. Be sure to secure the socket to the extension, if it falls it will go into the oil pan. Spin the pump counter-clockwise with a drill until you hear it load down. Ideally this should be done with the valve cover off. When oil comes out of the pushrods, its primed. Use a good electric drill for this, a halfway tight motor will let the smoke out of a cordless pretty quick.