needing help in LA

[robtc]

I have been working on a '55 Champion which has developed a knocking sound. After reading through various things here on the forum I diagnosed it as a flex plate. Took the engine out, looked at the flex plate and it looked fine. I put a new one in anyway and dialed in the bell housing. Still has the knocking sound.

More research on the forum. Timing gear? Maybe. So I installed a new one. Still knocking. Getting frustrated but still thinking. Maybe the sound is coming from inside the engine. Could it be rod bearings? I took off the oil pan and sure enough three of the six piston rods could be moved about by hand. Surely that was it. New connecting rod bearings all around. New oil pan gasket. New oil. Started it up. knocking.

So, if anyone is in the Los Angeles area, San Gabriel Valley area to be more exact, Temple City to be even more exact, and might have a few minutes on a Saturday to come by and help someone out who is about to pull out what is left of his hair, it would be much appreciated.

[Alan]

If no one closer volunteers and if it is not raining I would come by Sat. I am in South Gate, about 15 miles from you.

[ozarkman]

Can't get much closer than that!

I used to live in San Dimas.

From deep in the Ozarks...

Fred

[jallen]

New bearings may not eliminate your knock. Try plasti-guage to check
clearance, and as long as you're back in there you might want to
check main bearings and piston skirt gap too. Good luck.

[Bud]

I live in Hawthorne about 2 miles south of LAX. If I can help you, shoot me an email and I'll send you my phone number and we can talk about your problem and when I can take a look at your car. Bud

[JDP]

Piston slap it not unusual on the sixes.

JDP/Maryland

[41 Frank]

A couple of us chapter members were asked some years ago to come and diagnose a knocking noise on a 62 GT Hawk 289. Turned out to be the fuel pump making the noise. In order to pinpoint the noise we started the car without the pump, it will run long enough on the gas in the carb to check for noise. Not saying this is necessarily your problem but would not cost anything to check.

[maxpower1954]

My thought exactly, eliminate the fuel pump as a source. Russ Farris

1963 GT Hawk R-2 4-speed
1964 Avanti R-1 Auto

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by robtc

I have been working on a '55 Champion which has developed a knocking sound. After reading through various things here on the forum I diagnosed it as a flex plate. Took the engine out, looked at the flex plate and it looked fine. I put a new one in anyway and dialed in the bell housing. Still has the knocking sound.
More research on the forum. Timing gear? Maybe. So I installed a new one. Still knocking. Getting frustrated but still thinking. Maybe the sound is coming from inside the engine. Could it be rod bearings? I took off the oil pan and sure enough three of the six piston rods could be moved about by hand. Surely that was it. New connecting rod bearings all around. New oil pan gasket. New oil. Started it up. knocking.

If the knocking is only when cold I agree with JDP- piston slap. I don't remember where, but a Studebaker factory publication (shop manual or service bulletin) addressed piston slap by saying it is normal when cold.



Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430