Anyone want to take a stab at what the hell this noise is. Been chasing it for about 4 years now. Listened to the entire engine with a stethoscope and its most noticeable on driver side top end. Oil pressure is good and the car runs pretty good. Valve adjustment is also good. I cannot figure out this noise though. Any help is always appreciated.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Q8OUicG--bU?si=PSVecwrUJzKYWOOS

 

Link didn't come through.

 

 

Hard to tell. Any exhaust leaks ?

 

Thanks, Norm.

×2, hard to tell through my tinny phone speaker. My immediate go-to is also exhaust leak. Can't tell from the video -- that thing have headers?

 

Oh that's a weird one. Listening to it over and over again without looking at it as we speak, in stereo.

How is the noise under load, when engaged in a gear ?

 

My shroud is a bit out of whack after all these years. Shims are needed, etc, to center it better. So not to make incidental contact with the fan blades...

 

It does have an exhaust leak on that side at the weld on the header flange. I didnt think that that that was the sound though. I swear it almost sounds like a valve is not seating correctly, but i would think if that was the case i would have smoke in the exhaust or backfiring which i have neither.

 

Take a stethoscope and probe the various areas - a strong rubber hose, wood dowel rod, broomstick, etc. often work well.

What was done on the car 4 years ago - anything which might have contributed to the noise developing?

Since it’s basically a SWAG at this point via cyberspace armchair diagnostics, it kinda/sorta sounds like an oil pump shaft knocking or hitting something. Obviously, a SWAG.

 

Norm, if you re-read post #1, it sounds like he's already done the stethoscope bit.

It does have headers though, which apparently do leak. I would deal with that as a separate issue and just maybe, coincidentally, the noise will go away.

 

Oh heck sorry about that. On my phone and didn’t thoroughly review. Thanks for the heads up.

 

It doesn't sound like, piston slap, rod knock, pinging, etc.

Neither do I. Your sound has a fluttering, wobbling, somethings loose, effect to it.

This below is textbook exhaust leak sound with area pinpointed to the specific piston location. And proven to be the issue with repair.


I've had header flange leak multiple times on my then 67. It did not sound like your noise. It sounded like the leak in YouTube vid I just posted. My friends 71 SS Novas header bolts like to come loose from time to time same sound as this vid, not yours.


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