Help! Bad Sound...

[curtish57]

Hey all,

So I have been chasing my tail for month or more now on a spark issue that turned out to be well, the spark plugs. I had iridium plugs in there since the break in and they were very fouled and gapped to close for an HEI. I replaced all but one as I broke it trying to get around a header so I think the back fire is the one cylinder with the iridum plug in it still, this was only like the second or third start since that. More concerning is that god awful screeching! What could that be? I replaced the stock starter with a high torque mini starter and I speculated it may be binding up but I am not sure. It's not a belt sound to me. Any advice would be appreciated very much. Thank you. 

[Whons]

well your first thing to do is you must get that broken plug out. I know it's hard to work around headers. I have bent and  ground wrenches to get at spark plugs. Good luck.

[Dtret]

Might not be the belts but I’d remove them all and start it. By doing that you remove the possibility of the belts, alternator, water pump, ac compressor and power steering. 

[420ponies]

It could be something close to the flywheel rubbing.

[Dtret]

9 minutes ago, 420ponies said:

It could be something close to the flywheel rubbing.

That’s very possible. The way it sounds right at the end makes me think that also. But I went the easy way first. lol. 

[Rob Peters]

2 hours ago, Whons said:

well your first thing to do is you must get that broken plug out. I know it's hard to work around headers. I have bent and  ground wrenches to get at spark plugs. Good luck.

I don't think he was saying the 1 old one is broken, I think he was saying then he tried to install the new one he broke it so he had to install one of the old ones in that spot.  I could be wrong on that because I was wrong once before or at least I thought I was wrong but I was simply mistaken

rob

[cny first gen 71]

Get a stethoscope and try to track it down that way, sounds like something is rubbing somewhere. 

[Marks71]

Is it possible that due to clearance issues that maybe the starter drive isn’t completely disengaging from the flywheel?

[curtish57]

1 hour ago, Rob Peters said:

I don't think he was saying the 1 old one is broken, I think he was saying then he tried to install the new one he broke it so he had to install one of the old ones in that spot.  I could be wrong on that because I was wrong once before or at least I thought I was wrong but I was simply mistaken

rob

Yes there is no broken plug in still I broke it on install so I installed an new one and, just left the old iridium one in the last cylinder until I get another today to replace it. 

1 hour ago, Marks71 said:

Is it possible that due to clearance issues that maybe the starter drive isn’t completely disengaging from the flywheel?

Yes that was my first suspicion as it is a new hi torque mini starter and I had clearance issues before I had the plug problem. My main thing is my hearing is bad (too many explosions in the army) and I can't tell if that noise sounds like the starter not disengaging or something more serious. 

3 hours ago, 420ponies said:

It could be something close to the flywheel rubbing.

Anything you think other than the starter gear? What else could it be or could plausibly be? 

2 hours ago, Dtret said:

That’s very possible. The way it sounds right at the end makes me think that also. But I went the easy way first. lol. 

That's my instinct as well. It sounds way to much like mechanical screeching to me plus when my head is actually under the hood it doesn't sound like its coming from the front, it sounds like it's coming from the back area. 

 

 

Thank you all for the replies man I really appreciate it!!

[420ponies]

Do you have a flywheel/ flex plate cover? That's what it sounds like to me. Now that I have heard it 20 times, it could be the fan hitting the shroud. Check and see if you can see any scrapes in the tunnel .

Edited December 29, 2024 by 420ponies
added content

[curtish57]

32 minutes ago, 420ponies said:

Do you have a flywheel/ flex plate cover? That's what it sounds like to me.

I do but it isn't installed at the moment. 

[DragCat]

Check to make sure the fan isn't rubbing the shroud. It sounds more rubbing to me not grinding 

[420ponies]

2 hours ago, DragCat said:

Check to make sure the fan isn't rubbing the shroud. It sounds more rubbing to me not grinding 

That happened to me on initial start up, but that was very loud and pinpointed fast. Sounds like it's a constant noise. You might need some others to help you find it. Now that I have heard it 20 times, it could be the fan hitting the shroud. Check and see if you can see any scrapes in the tunnel .

Edited December 29, 2024 by 420ponies
added content

[curtish57]

1 hour ago, 420ponies said:

That happened to me on initial start up, but that was very loud and pinpointed fast. Sounds like it's a constant noise. You might need some others to help you find it. Now that I have heard it 20 times, it could be the fan hitting the shroud. Check and see if you can see any scrapes in the tunnel .

I checked all in the tunnel, no scrapes no chucks of metal, no nothing. The starter seems to be clearing but it's really tight. Also I don't have a fan shroud, I run electric fans so that's out. I read somewhere that a water pump going out can make terrible noises like that too, but again my hearing is jacked and the car still has open headers lol. I ordered a stethoscope and I may con my brother into helping me examine further tomorrow. It's just all so odd because there isn't any outward evidence anywhere. 

[Dtret]

Aside from my removal of the belts suggestion, if you’re running open headers is it possible that it’s the 3 bolt collector flanges rattling around?

[curtish57]

40 minutes ago, Dtret said:

Aside from my removal of the belts suggestion, if you’re running open headers is it possible that it’s the 3 bolt collector flanges rattling around?

No I don't have any flanges on the headers right now

[Glen]

Def sounds like the Z-pin on the flux capacitor. 
 

I’ll shut up now. 

[420ponies]

11 hours ago, curtish57 said:

I checked all in the tunnel, no scrapes no chucks of metal, no nothing. The starter seems to be clearing but it's really tight. Also I don't have a fan shroud, I run electric fans so that's out. I read somewhere that a water pump going out can make terrible noises like that too, but again my hearing is jacked and the car still has open headers lol. I ordered a stethoscope and I may con my brother into helping me examine further tomorrow. It's just all so odd because there isn't any outward evidence anywhere. 

If it's that close I'm thinking that flexplate might not be true flat and may be hitting the starter gear? Do you have a flexplute turning tool? if you did, you could manually turn the engine and use feeler gauge to check clearance between starter and flexplate . Minimum would be .070" . Does the engine side of flexplate have any shiny spots?

[714024SPEED]

It's either the flex plate hitting the starter or converter bolts backed out. But really sound like the starter issue.

[Scott S.]

Dry seal in the water pump ????

Just my $ 0.02 worth. 

[curtish57]

5 hours ago, 420ponies said:

If it's that close I'm thinking that flexplate might not be true flat and may be hitting the starter gear? Do you have a flexplute turning tool? if you did, you could manually turn the engine and use feeler gauge to check clearance between starter and flexplate . Minimum would be .070" . Does the engine side of flexplate have any shiny spots?

I do have a turning tool and will look specifically at that up on the lift. I looked all in there for shiny spots and didn't see anything but I didn't manually turn it. Also it seems odd for that problem to develop out of nowhere. I'm hoping it's just the starter getting hung up or misaligned. 

 

2 hours ago, 714024SPEED said:

It's either the flex plate hitting the starter or converter bolts backed out. But really sound like the starter issue.

I'll double check the bolts but I tent to agree it's the starter. 

[curtish57]

3 minutes ago, Scott S. said:

Dry seal in the water pump ????

Just my $ 0.02 worth. 

Man that's what I'm really hoping it is that would be simple and easy. It has sat the better part of 3 months now and it's been cold up here in WA. Not bitter intense cold like a normal winter but nevertheless cold enough. Idk I'm going to get off my guff here and report back at the end of the day hopefully with some conclusive results. 

[Scott S.]

In my case, Spokane is "down there".... lol

I've used those add in lubricants in the spring after I've done the spring flushing. But I remember a similar sound from my ex's T-Bird just before the pump packed it in. 

[Whons]

Sorry I was misunderstanding about the broken spark plug. I would check everything with the starter proper gear tooth clearance and everything every one else mentioned. 

[Jason72]

Sounds like the tin converter cover hitting the flex plate