Got the pan off this morning... checked and rechecked everything. I can't find anything hitting or rubbing. I am going to regasket it and toss it back in, hope for the best.

Wow! I feel ur pain!

Other things to check:

Was fan hitting shroud?
Distributor bearings?
Flywheel?
Cam gear?
Rocker hitting valve cover?
Man, that sux!!!

That is what baffles me the most. I tore it down and everything looks perfect. Inside the car it sounded like an exhaust leak. Outside, very metallic. Yet, no metal shavings in the pan or filter. I'm stumped...

I had a similar problem when I did head and cam swap on my car. It sounded like a metallic noise like a bad lifter or rocker. I thought I wiped my cam on break in. It ended up being an exhaust leak where the manifold meets the exhaust pipe (bad gasket seal). Just something to check.

This kind of thing is really tough. Did you look at the rod bearings when you had the pan off it?

I checked a few randomly, everything looks like new. (I used coated bearings per the suggestion of my machinist. He builds a lot of engines for endurance racing. Rolex 24, etc)

I am waiting on FedEx to drop my gaskets on the front porch. Then I will be sealing it back up today.

How was the oil pressure? Usually a drop if a bad rod bearing. Check the oil pickup clearance to the pan. Good luck.

I didn't run it long enough to check the OP. It didn't sound like a bottom end knock, it had a tin sound. I checked the flywheel dust cover, etc. - not a mark. The engine rolls over smooth on the stand, everything looks great. FedEx just dropped off my gaskets, time to go seal this thing up. I have to repair a cracked ear on the driver's side exhaust manifold, then it can go back in the car. It wasn't leaking, just looks like crap.

I plan to fire it again with the nose off, that way it will be easier to tear back out if I still have a noise.

Did that Mouse work it's way out of your Rat?

Haven't had much time to work on it. Going to finish getting it ready to go back in the car tomorrow. I spent most of last week working on a surprise for my father's 64th birthday. (I bought him a 72' Chevelle project)

Got it back in the car today....



In the process, I acquired some gashes in my forearm and nearly lost a fingertip. I'm done for the day, too damn hot out there. (93 in the shade currently)

Oh so close... but I ran out of steam today. It's just too damn hot and humid out there. I'm off again Tuesday, should be able to get the rest done and fire it up.

I must be the unluckiest MF'er around!

Finally got around to trying to start it today... won't start, flies over like it has no pistons in it. Pulled #1 plug, bumped it over with my finger over the hole... barely anything. Haven't put a compression tester on it, but it has almost no compression. I did a cam swap while it was out, and per recommendations... retarded it 2*. Other than new gaskets, all I did was change the cam. The cylinder heads were not removed. I plan to put a gauge on it and record the #s for all cylinders tomorrow. I'll be calling Bullet Cams Monday.

All you can do is to just keep plugging along.

Bill

Spoke with Bullet today, they want me to install it straight up and get back to them. I'm going to humor them and line it up dot to dot. Then get some compression numbers. I have a bad feeling that I will be ripping the intake back off and pulling out the cam.