rattling crank?
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rattling crank?
I recently purchased a 59 F100 which has been fitted with a 1973 351w. The truck wasn't running when I bought it, but I was told it had been running 3 months prior to purchase. Got it running a few days after I got it home. Ended up being a broken wire.
Now that I have the truck running I have discovered an alarming sound coming from the engine. I have limited experience with motors in general( change my own oil, filters etc...) but I am eager to learn. The noise is coming from the lower end. I believe from the crank. It does not happen until the engine has warmed up. A friend of mine suggested that the harmonic balancer may need adjusting. I look forward to any and all input on what may be causing this.
pm
Now that I have the truck running I have discovered an alarming sound coming from the engine. I have limited experience with motors in general( change my own oil, filters etc...) but I am eager to learn. The noise is coming from the lower end. I believe from the crank. It does not happen until the engine has warmed up. A friend of mine suggested that the harmonic balancer may need adjusting. I look forward to any and all input on what may be causing this.
pm
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From: San Diego CA
rattling crank?
pm Welcome to FTE first are there any other symptoms ei low oil pressure, running hot, or leaving puddles. Also it would be helpful if you could describe the noise. Is it a rattle or metalic knock, if you put your hand on the engine can you feel it. Does it make the noise when you accelerate, decelerate, at idle, or all RPMs. Can you see the harmonic balancer shaking up and down or side to side.
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rattling crank?
Cobraguy,
Metalic knock sums it up pretty good and I can feel it while touching the engine. It can be heard at all rpm's but it seems to get much worse upon acceleration. Over the weekend I noticed the engine getting a little hot. Found a bad thermostat. Replaced it and added a new temp guage. It seems to be ok now. Regarding puddling. There is a slight leak from the rear of the motor but I am not sure how much would constitute puddling. Keep in mind I am new at this whole motor thing, but when looking at the harmonic balancer, I would say it is turning pretty smoothly. Can't comment on oil pressure as I don't have a working guage yet.
Thanks,
pm
Metalic knock sums it up pretty good and I can feel it while touching the engine. It can be heard at all rpm's but it seems to get much worse upon acceleration. Over the weekend I noticed the engine getting a little hot. Found a bad thermostat. Replaced it and added a new temp guage. It seems to be ok now. Regarding puddling. There is a slight leak from the rear of the motor but I am not sure how much would constitute puddling. Keep in mind I am new at this whole motor thing, but when looking at the harmonic balancer, I would say it is turning pretty smoothly. Can't comment on oil pressure as I don't have a working guage yet.
Thanks,
pm
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Southern New Hampshire
rattling crank?
Get under and look carefully for anything loose such as the flywheel dust cover.
If it has an automatic the converter may be loose or the wrong one for that combo. Sometimes swappers miss the finer points and use the wrong size bolts that cause contact also.
If its a stick, drop the dust cover and feel around for anything loose.
An old trick is to remove one plug wire at a time and see if the noise stops or decreases; this is helpful to locate an individual rod bearing problem.
Im not up on the 351 that much but also be sure there isnt a pulley bolt loose or some other external cause.
If it has an automatic the converter may be loose or the wrong one for that combo. Sometimes swappers miss the finer points and use the wrong size bolts that cause contact also.
If its a stick, drop the dust cover and feel around for anything loose.
An old trick is to remove one plug wire at a time and see if the noise stops or decreases; this is helpful to locate an individual rod bearing problem.
Im not up on the 351 that much but also be sure there isnt a pulley bolt loose or some other external cause.
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From: McAlester, OK
rattling crank?
After my last engine blew from a rod bolt comming loose, I suggest taking the pan off and checking every rod and bearing bolt making sure that they are torqued right. Do the harmonic balancer too. My knock sounded like it was from the middle of the block (FE has the crank up in the block like a Y-block does instead of halfway like your 351 does). Everybody told me that I probribly needed a new timing chain. So I replaced it and made a quick run to pick up a free 400 before the offer dissapeared. Had to tow the truck home and get a new 390.
Clayton
Clayton
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rattling crank?
Thanks to all for their input in such a short time. I will definitely consider all recommendations. I'll do some serious inspecting over the weekend and see what I can find.
Thanks again,
pm
Thanks again,
pm
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
rattling crank?
PM go to your local bookstore and get "How to rebuild a small block Ford" it sounds like a rebuild is in your near future. This book will help you alot, even if you farm the work out, it will give you an understanding of how it all works and why. Good luck, Rich.
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rattling crank?
Cobraguy,
I ordered one from amazon.com yesterday. Sounds like I'm on the right track. Thanks for the support and advice. Looking forward to a fine tuned machine.
pm
I ordered one from amazon.com yesterday. Sounds like I'm on the right track. Thanks for the support and advice. Looking forward to a fine tuned machine.
pm
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