My father in law rebuilt the 260 thats in the car now in 1996 and then the car was not driven that much untill bought it about 10 yrs ago. Within the past month there is a weird noise that sounds like a fan clutch tick or tapping sound. I've replaced the fan clutch water pump and a pulley since. Maybe a fuel pump or timing chain or even a bad pulley? Will a bad fuel pump make that kind of noise? It chirps away at idle and light throttle. Is there a way to upload a sound clip on here?

 

I'd first remove all the drive belts & see if the noise is still there.

 

Tick or tapping sounds like rockers arms. Use a piece of hose (carefully) held to your ear to narrow down the location of the noise. Just don't catch it in any moving parts.

 

Ive had a mechanic friend who has a scope listen and he couldnt find it. I'm going to take the belts off one by one asap.

 

Sorry for a dumb question but most of the olds fuel pumps look like they are installed upside down to me. With the fittings facing up. Mine is sitting with the fittings facing down. Does this change per year/ engine size or even the brand of pump?

 

That might be a problem, unless you have a Chevy engine.

It would not operate if installed upside down.

 

I think it's time for some pictures, because this, I gotta see.

- Eric

 

Sorry I thought it was facing down but the lines are coming off the top of the pump. I did not look first. my bad. LOL Is there a way to post a video of the engine running on here

 

Check your pulley on the crank shaft for cracks, mine was cracked on my Vette, made a ticking sound. It drove me crazy until finally i saw it wobbling a little. This was after i bought a new power steering pump that didnt fix the problem. It did go away when i loosened the power steering belt, and came back when i tightened it. Anyway took of the crank pulley and it had a nice crack by one of the bolt holes. New pulley, no tick!

 

here is a video. listen to the pass side.

 

do u have ac could be the ac clutch or could be a bad bearing in the alt

 

the a/c is removed and the alt is newer maybe 2yrs old with maybe a few hundred miles

 

It kind of sounds like an alternator bearing. But it's really hard to tell in the video. The fan noise covers up a lot. Like suggested start removing belts and isolate it.

 

smitty did you listen at around 25sec to the end its easier to hear at that point. Crank up those speakers lol. The clackity clack sound. I noticed there was a lower power steering to block bracket bolt was missing. ugh

 

I don't know your particular application but before you add that lower bolt, make sure it doesn't require a spacer.

 

Fan hitting shroud? Just a guess. Had that before.

 

Ok I finally had a chance to work on the engine noise. I removed the belts one at a time. The a/c is already gone so the alt belt was first and the noise was still there. Once the power steering belt was removed it was all quiet. ??

 

Is your power steering pulley loose?

- Eric

 

I changed the PS belt to a Dayco belt and now the noise is gone.

 

Did you check the power steering pulley?

- Eric

 

Yes it was and is fine. I fixed the problem. The top cog belt must sit inside the pulley better.