Just got an 89 Comanche last week 4.0 5 speed 2wd. and while warming it up this morning I heard a nasty sounding grind noise coming from somewhere in the front end (I assume it was engine related sense I was not moving in the driveway) it almost sounded like when you try to start when the engine is already on. Did some searching and came across people talking about their flex plate making noise. I figure I’m gunna check that first but is there anything else I should focus attention on while I’m checking things out? I only notice the sound when idling but not sure whether the noise goes away while driving or if the exhaust drowns it out. And it seems to happen more frequently as it warms up

Well obviously, I thought I was pretty transparent in my post, I’m looking for ideas on what to look at not for someone to tell me what’s wrong. If I wanted that I would, like you said “take it to a mech” I’m just curious if you think this is so “silly” why you’d waste your time responding? I’m very confident that with or without help I’ll get this fixed but time is valuable to us all and a helpful idea can save a lot of it.

Also haven’t been able to find much information pertaining to an engine noise that isn’t repetitive or have a pattern to it.

Have you narrowed down where the sound is coming from? Using a mechanic's stethoscope would help pinpoint the location.

thanks wabrown!! I’m a go pick me one up. It seems to be somewhere on the bottom end or the flywheel been trying to wait for the weather to clear up. (Driveway work in February sucks in the evergreen state). Worse comes to worse the HO swap will be done a little sooner than planed. I wanted to just swap the head n all that but....