..and they are tossing some sockets around inside the quarter panels or something, I dunno what this odd noise is but it started just recently and seems very erratic in nature.

I am thinking a carb issue since it smelled a bit rich earlier in the day but seemed to go away after the noise.

I had been getting on it a bit while merging from an onramp, and backed off the gas a tad when I noticed I was breezing past 90mph, when I first heard it.
Just a few rattles and knockings then gone.

Came again later in the day when I went to pick up my girl, again clunkity clankity then gone.

I can't imagine it could be valves, because I don't hear it in front of me. I don't think.
It is a newly installed longblock with only a couple thousand miles on it.

Anyone ever experience anything in the exhaust or in the engine that might make a clanking sound loud enough to make you think a couple tools might be bouncing around someplace out back?

I am suspecting carb. Because I always suspect the carb.

Not really sure where else I might put this inquiry, since I don't know if it is brakes coming apart, engine noise, brawling roller derby kittens, muffler bearings, or maybe those marbles I lost a long time ago.
If this is the wrong place........well, then. Oops.

 

Could it be the Keebler Elves? Everybody assumes midgets, but in most cases it's the elves... or perhaps you need a higher octane in your fuel?

 

They prefer the term "little people".
Pre-ignition can ping and rattle pretty loudly but it's more in the front? Could be though, get some higher octane fuel as recommended.
Maybe the rear end is shot?, univeral joints?

 

Is the noise random or in a certain pattern or frequency?
Have you looked for all loose tools, parts, etc in the trunk?
Does it bappen just over certain bumps or speeds?

 

CMN2GTU, Since you said you heard it while backing off, my money goes on a u-joint. If it's as bad as you describe, you should be able to slide under the car and shake the driveshaft. If you feel/see ANY motion in either u-joint you have found the problem. (My 2nd choice is rear end or rear axle bearing.)

 

^
THIS
right where my mind went was there.
I do suspect I have badly raped rear springs, and the ol' air shocks leak like....old air shocks.
So I picked up some jackstands today since mine are in a galaxy far far away, and look forward to getting dirt in my ears and sweating like a pig.
I have been having a bit of an issue with using my left arm so things are just going a bit slower than usual, or it would have been in the air last week and I would be telling you about what I broke.

I went and filled up on the mid grade stuff right before this, after trying several tankfulls of an octane booster w/ low grade. They did not really specify if I needed to worry about octane with the replacement longblock fwiw.

The sound was loud, and clear.
Reminded me of many times I had dropped a socket and it banged and rolled loudly around.
And has only so far happened those two times.

I recently had a lot of stuff laying around in the back, but I am pretty sure I cleaned out anything that would make such a sound.

I was on what I would call smooth and level freeway; a section of I8 in San Diego that intersects with the 125, after coming off a banked onramp and merging to the fast lane while accelerating healthily, but backing off once I got there to a cruise.


I will plainly admit to all that I fear that, for my shortsighted jab, I may have so far endangered myself to suffer the wrath of all people of a vertically challenged nature, and so do greatly appreciate the suggestion of Keebler elves.

I mean like....wtf are those little cookie-mongering freaks gonna do about it?
muahahahaa.

 

Where in California????????

Gene

 

The squirrels took care of those elves for you.

http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chi...e-rampage.html

 

That would be San Diego area sir