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What a Bad DAY

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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:32 PM
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Default What a Bad DAY

SO I finally pulled out the corvette from storage today.. Brought it into my garage and replaced the radiator as it was leaking. Which wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be..

anyways I had a neighbor come over to help me put the hood back on and he asked me if the car was always racing and never idling correctly. I told him yes and he pulled off a hose and then pluged the nipple on the carberator. When he did that the engine calmed right down and idled I thought it was going to be a great thing.... then I heard it.. YUP and knocking in the lower part of the engine.. I think a rod got screwed up or something...


NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.. I was all excited about driving the car tomorow to work.. that isnt happening now.. DAMMMMMM

Just had to vent..

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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:38 PM
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if it's only a rod bearing that's easy to change. no need to pull the engine
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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how would i know. all i know is that the noise is in the bottom end of the engine..??
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 11:33 PM
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Pull the pan and try to move the rods one by one against the crank. You can feel a loose one even if it only has .005-.010 extra play. With oil on the crank, they shouldn't move at all side to side. They Will slide a little back and forth on the crank. Let it run a little bit. If the knock goes away after it warms up, it could be a wrist pin. If it does go away when it's warm, drive it. They can go like that for years. If it's a rod or main bearing, fix it right now!

Good luck, keep us posted.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:22 AM
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I have also heard a knocking sound simular to a rod knock that was caused by a bad fuel pump. The pump produced sufficent pressure & volume for the car to run perfect but there was a broken spring inside it that caused the lever to slap the fuel pump push rod and made a sound VERY simular to a rod knock. It might be worth an hour of your time & $30 bucks or so for a new pump to eliminate it as a possiabulaty.

Jim
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:47 AM
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You could have knocked off a piece of carbon on one of the pistons and that is what you are hearing. If a piece of carbon is forced loose at start up and wedges sideways it will sound like a rod knocking. Only cure is to run it out the valve and you will be good to go.
Just my $ .02 worth
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 07:52 AM
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Do you have good oil presure?
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:18 AM
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you can also test for a bad bearing by tapping on the rod caps with a metal rod. good ones sound fairly solid while bad ones will sound hollow.

good luck and i hope it's not a rod bearing. i wasn't so lucky...
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Phil Zell
You could have knocked off a piece of carbon on one of the pistons and that is what you are hearing. If a piece of carbon is forced loose at start up and wedges sideways it will sound like a rod knocking. Only cure is to run it out the valve and you will be good to go.
Just my $ .02 worth
I saw this happen once at my Uncle's shop years ago. I guy came in with a '78 or '79 Malibu that was hammerin'. He thought it was new motor time. My Uncle ran some ATF down the carb while running the motor around 2 grand, and old trick from way back. The carbon broke loose & the knock went away. And my Uncle had a new customer for life...........
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Old Apr 18, 2009 | 04:04 PM
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I brought it to a shop around here and he said that he doesnt think that it is a rod.. He also doesnt think that its the fuel pump.. He however has no clue what it is though.. Im just gonna drive it.. if it goes ill replace the motor with a 383 stroker that i know of for sale..

Hope everyone has a great weekend..

Greg
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 10:55 AM
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I had an automatic GTO that had loose fly wheel bolts and knocked at a low idle, half a turn on the bolts fixed it..
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 11:33 AM
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You can pull spark plug wires one by one. If the knock gets louder it's that cylinder. Good luck
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