BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Texas82GP]

I wonder if the original noise was the loose torque converter bolt? 🤔

 

[69hurstolds]

I wonder if the original noise was the loose torque converter bolt? 🤔

Probably the nut behind the wheel. ba-dum TSSS!!!!!

 

[Rktpwrd]

Sorry if I missed it, but did pull it off during the trouble-shooting/mini-teardown? If the sound suddenly appeared after putting it back together, then I would vote cover misalignment because the cover can move a little before tightening down the bolts. I mean, if it was on there and not making the sound before....or a lesser sound, then it's possible.

But let's go back to post 3,852 in this thread...


...or #3,919...



...or way back to 3,838 and 3,839...





I'm going to steal some credit where credit ain't due. 🤪😷🤪😷

But actually, olds307 and 403 was first to the table with that and spot on. We just didn't know it at the time.

Regardless, it's good to be back on the road with no noise and a NEWLY REBUILT ALTERNATOR!!

What do I win?😁 These aftermarket torque converter covers fit very tight for some reason. Mine big time rubbed. One way or another on too many builds, torque converter covers have caused some sort of odd noise. So I now know right away that is one of the first things to check.

Welllllll, let’s see.

Don’t go breaking your arms patting yourselves on the back just yet, you might wanna have the facts and the chronology correct first.

First, yes the inspection cover and the starter were pulled to facilitate the installation of the headers. Then they were reinstalled once the headers were done.

It was after that, that the mystery noise showed up. Down low and at THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. Not at the back.

But said inspection cover WAS pulled again (as suggested) in the course of the wild goose chase to find the original noise, and no marks were found in it at that time (I know, because I took it into work with me to give it a good cleaning in our Varsol tank).

After we tore half the motor apart in the car and I started putting it back together again, the inspection cover was reinstalled for a third time. It was after this point that the second, NEW noise was discovered. This time down low still, but at the BACK of the engine.

Completely different location, cause and effect.
I do appreciate the sarcasm and ribbing though, you guys at least get points for effort.
😉🤣

(Not to mention my sincere appreciation for trying to help. Thank you!)

Glad you figured it out and no damage done.
And pit bulls aren't stubborn
😆

Thanks Tony. Maybe not pit bulls, but I’m like a dog going after a bone with stuff like this, just won’t give up.

Donovan,

Glad the engine noise wasn't something more serious. I just got caught up with the thread and was really worried it was gonna be major downtime for the car.

Thanks Josh, you and me both.

Awesome news!

Appreciate it Jared. Thanks also for all the suggestions, help, and moral support. You guys are the best.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I wonder if the original noise was the loose torque converter bolt? 🤔

I honestly highly doubt it Jared. I could see it if there was 2 bolts loose, but not one. There wouldn’t be enough movement in anything with only one bolt loose IMO.

 

[69hurstolds]

But the point is, now it is QUIET. No bad outcome here. So now you can put gas in it, and enjoy it!!!!! (when the snow melts?)

 

[Supercharged111]

Did you reef on the cover when you did the headers? Or did they maybe heat it and distort it?

 

[carnutjw]

Y’know, sometimes it pays to be a stubborn as hell pit bull.

I started troubleshooting a bit more tonight after considering a few new possibilities, starting with the dipstick tube and dipstick. They both were removed to install the headers, so I thought they could possibly be hitting the crankshaft counterweights, making a sound. We tried to reinstall it in the exact same place it came out of, but anything’s possible right?

Well, after manipulating it and starting the car again, that wasn’t it.

I was just about to throw my hands up in frustration for the 137th time, when on a whim I decided to slide under the car one more time to see if this new noise was louder underneath. With the car running, I put my hand on the bottom of the oil pan, i could feel it, but it was faint. Then put my hand on the underside of the plastic inspection cover, and hey! We might be on to something here.

Yanked that plastic POS outta there, started and warmed up the car again, and BAM! No more new noise!

Turns out that the converter bolts or something else was hitting the inspection cover making a deep knocking sound.
You can see the witness marks in the plastic if you look close, and it seems to have been the worst right adjacent to the starter, between the starter and crankshaft:

View attachment 170130

View attachment 170131

View attachment 170132

This is such good news and I’m so relieved, you guys have no idea! I had nightmare visions of dollar signs flying out the window, and months of downtime. SO glad that isn’t the case anymore.

So to recap this whole ridiculous misadventure, the initial strange noise went away after we tore down and reassembled the front of the engine, only to be replaced by this second worse sound, which was the converter bolts hitting the stupid inspection cover.

Sorry guys, the LS swaps are out, no Bentley V12 swaps either (as cool as that might’ve been). (And MotorheadMike, ego check is done now too).
😏

So something happening on the back end was causing a noise from the front? Huh! Seems like I've heard of that somewhere???

 

[Rktpwrd]

So something happening on the back end was causing a noise from the front? Huh! Seems like I've heard of that somewhere???

Uhhh, no.
Go back and read my reply to 69hurstolds and olds403and307. 2 completely different noises coming from 2 completely different areas.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Did you reef on the cover when you did the headers? Or did they maybe heat it and distort it?

I suppose that might be possible, but unlikely. There’s no signs of distortion from the heat, just the rubbing witness marks. It’s only plastic and fairly flexible, I probably just didn’t get it perfectly in place where it had enough clearance to everything. There’s a bit of slop in the mounting holes, not much, but apparently enough to allow it to come into contact with the moving parts.
The second noise is 100% on me, I didn’t think there was enough play in it to cause an issue.

 

[axisg]

ummm its 15 deg and sunny in Calgary. My sister up by Signal Hill says the roads are clear and dry......

... burnout pics ?? Just to make sure the noise is gone of course. Purely scientific