engine noise - '66 427

[Stephen L.]

so, out of nowhere, i am driving and start to hear a clunking sound from the engine...engine speed slower, clunking sound occurred less frequently... engine speed faster clunking sound occurred more frequently


i stopped driving immediately


any thoughts???

[Joe L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

so, out of nowhere, i am driving and start to hear a clunking sound from the engine...engine speed slower, clunking sound occurred less frequently... engine speed faster clunking sound occurred more frequently


i stopped driving immediately


any thoughts???

Stephen-------



Lots and lots of possibilities from the relatively benign to the calamitous.

The first think I'd check is possible interference between the flywheel and the flywheel cover. Sometimes the cover will get slightly distorted and contact the flywheel.

[Doug M.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

Remove valve covers, check rockers and push rods

[Stephen L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

Thanks Guys - will start with this ...

[Duke W.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

so, out of nowhere, i am driving and start to hear a clunking sound from the engine...engine speed slower, clunking sound occurred less frequently... engine speed faster clunking sound occurred more frequently


i stopped driving immediately


any thoughts???

Are you sayilng that the frequency of the "clunking" is tied directly to engine speed? If it occurs at idle can you get a general idea of where it is coming from. You haven't provided much to go on.

Other things to check are the front balancer bolt and all pulley bolts. Try moving all the pulleys fore/aft with the engine off. Any play could mean a loose pulley or worn bearing in the driven accessory. For example a worn coolant pump bearing will result in such movement of the pulley. Do the same check for the viscous fan clutch.

Duke

[Joe C.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

A dead miss can cause this kind of noise in a worn engine.

[Stephen L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

Thanks guys - question one is should I even start the car to diagnose or can I risk doing more damage ?


Engine is the cars original 390h engine with its original stamp on stamp pad - can't afford to lose it !!??

[Stephen L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

[QUOTE=Duke Williams (22045);726665]Are you sayilng that the frequency of the "clunking" is tied directly to engine speed? If it occurs at idle can you get a general idea of where it is coming from. You haven't provided much to go on"

yes Duke frequency of clunking is tied directly to the speed of the engine

i don't have much because I went immediately home so as not to mess things up further

if I had to guess, sound was at front to left of front of engine - perhaps even left side - but really guessing at this point

[Anthony P.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

When I hear the description as clunky I assume lower end but in this case a broken fuel pump spring can make an rpm related click/tap noise also! left front of the engine, just another opinion!

[Edward B.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

Before tearing into things, remove the belts and see if the clunking goes away. I've had water pumps make clunking noises because of bad bearings before, and the noise was hard to pinpoint. Removing the belts will at least rule out the accessories.

Ed

[Stephen L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

thanks guys

here is what i did

started car and let it idle until it got up to temp - idled at 1500 ... no noise - idled at 2500 ... no noise

bit the bullet and decided to drive the car

no noise at first, but sure enough clunk appeared - but tested it further...interestingly, it did not go up and down with engine speed...but with car speed

in fact, it turns out that it is not in the engine at all

it is somewhere in the left wheel, steering gear box area

if i turn to the left, it is there - go straight it is there - turn right...nothing

what are the thoughts now?

again, it is kind of a clunking noise - you can also feel it in the steering wheel

thanks!

[Patrick B.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

Jack up the front end and wiggle the wheels with your hands. Might be a front wheel bearing.

[Duke W.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

If the frequency goes with wheel speed my first suspects would be a loose wheel or brake caliper or maybe even a cracked brake disk. Check those first then check ball joints, A-arm bushings, all steering joints for play, and all related fasteners for proper torque.

Duke

[Edward B.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

I'd guess a wheel bearing, which, luckily for you, will be a LOT cheaper than engine issues!!

Ed

[Stephen L.]

Re: engine noise - '66 427

thanks guys

yes, SUPER relieved it does not appear to be an engine issue

will start to look at the front end and see what i see