Well maybe not super strange but it sounds like someone poured pop-corn into my engine and now its decided to pop, does not make it drive any differently but it is a sound that you can hear outside the vehicle, i think it may just be something loose and the sound seems to be coming from underneath or inside the engine..

i recorded the sound,

http://pennywyse.com/carsound.wav

Sorry the forum said it was an invalid file so i hosted it,

Any help is apriciated!

 

That sounds like my flex plate when it started going. It almost sounds like it's coming from the lower end of the block when it's cracked.

 

Any way to find out for sure? I saw Blue's post about the flex plate with the hairline cracks.. anyone have a writeup on how to replace that the easiest way?

 

Take the Transmission out that's the easiest way without loosing allot of fluids and scratching your paint.

 

I forgot to mention how to check for cracks. When I pulled off the cover to the bell housing I couldn't actually see the cracks at all because the crank shaft was covering them. So I used a screwdriver to rotate the flex-plate back and forth and I saw a little play from the flex-plate the the crankshaft and that told me to pull the tranny out. And sure enough as the picture you saw

 

Thanks, I wouldnt say taking the tranny out is EASY as its my only mode of transportation.. and im like 99% sure its not a rod.. i guess thats good.. since this all started happening about a day or so ago how long in anyones opinion could i drive like this before god knows what would happen?

 

I drove mine for about 3 months with it rapping like that I just kept putting it off because I didn't wanna do the work. finally I did it and it only took me 3 hours on the floor 1 hour to take the tranny out and 2 to put it back in,

 

Taking the tranny out wasn't that easy. It was simple but not easy because I did it on my back 1 hour taking it out and 2 hours putting it back in. and being covered in grease oil whatever. it's possible to get it done in your driveway or garage in one day. I had a compressor and air tools available to that helped allot.

 

Does it run ok? It doesnt really sound internal due to the fact that its so irregular. Usually a rod or lifter will be more of a constant sound. Unless of coarse its just floppin around in there, but if i was it probably wouldnt run so great. Have you done any compression tests or anything? And i would NOT drive it until you figure out what it is. If it is something simple you run the risk of making it way worse. Trust me there. I had my camaro that started to burn a little oil and tick a lil. I should have quit driving it but like you it was my only means of transportation. Three months later though i pulled into a gas station and it just died, i thought it was out of gas or the battery was dead but no. Not that simple, i tore into it and i spun the rod bearing on cyl 6, destroyed 4 of 8 pistons(one was just about gone), and cracked both the head and block between cyl 4 and 6. But the wierd thing was it ran good. It just used oil....let me tell ya though a small block chevy can take lickin and keep on tickin.

 

Thanks for the response... I went out to mess with it and after I started it a few times it started making a BAD high pitch sound and the alternator/PWR steering etc. all went out so I figured a pully... All I can say is an alternator is most likely as it was smoking from where it was rubbing, could that also cause the ticking? maybe it alternator was going out im not sure lol imma try to buy a new one so I dont have to worry and put this off as a project

 

Is the belt still on it? If it is pull it off and spin all your pulleys and wiggle them. If they make noise or have play whatever it may be needs to be replaced...

 

Hey big, i did that today.. all of the pully's spun freely the alternator makes a sound but its moving now (yesterday before i cut the belt it was where the belt was rubbing the most) so im thinking it needs a new one but guess what NO SOUND.. I started it up and no sound.. it sound normal w/o the belt on could my alternator be doing that or would it be like my PWR Steering pump? thanks guys alot of help so far!!

 

Ah an Update!!

Problem was fixed by replacing the alternator.. now the sound was caused by the bearing.. being gone.. well most of them. With a new one it works great!

Thank guys, hopefuly this will help someone else someday... irregular knocking sounds may be caused by bearing going out.