Engine: Knocking Noise Source

[Warren Webb]

The subject- 1960 Lark V-8 3 speed overdrive
The Problem- Irregular knocking noise above idle speed

When I first looked at my friends car in his driveway the noise seemed to be from the rear of the engine/ bell housing area. Today we had the car towed to my place where I removed the transmission to make sure the transmission wasnt the cause of the knocking. When I place by stethiscope on the bellhousing the noise sounds loud but placed on the side of the engine block I hear almost nothing. At that area the engine sounds like a smooth running sewing machine but I have never heard of a clutch assy making an irregular knock so I am open for suggestions on what you all here think may be the cause.

My next step is to drop the exhaust from the manifolds, remove the bell housing & clutch assy, then reinstall the bell housing & start the engine again, that is if nothing obvious is seen in the clutch. What would you do?

[Kurt]

Loose flywheel or pressure plate?

[bosshoss61]

Maybe raise the rear wheels off the ground and push the clutch pedal in and out. Maybe a broken pressure plate spring.
good luck on that one

[Colgate Studebaker]

I was also thinking a broken spring, or something on the pressure plate. B.V.

[Warren Webb]

Today I got a better look at the inside of the clutch assy (for what its worth). I pulled the throwout bearing away from the pressure plate fingers & started the car. I would have been able to do more but this car has the worst mickey mouse dual exhaust system that must have been thought out by some moron. I'm gonna have to cut the exhaust pipes out so I can drop the "batwing" crossmember & remove the bell housing. Before I do that I'm gonna make a video of the noise just in case I find something really weird!

[DieselJim]

Had a 60 V8-auto that the torque converter was ran loose. Broke the crank. Still ran and drove, and knocked. Note you said 3 speed.

[Chucks Stude]

How is your oil pressure? Could it be a rod bearing that is going bad? Those noises travel down the crankshaft (Ask me how I know)................

[studebaker-R2-4-me]

I had a irregular clunking noise last summer in my Hawk. Check the u-joints for wear. That was my problem.

Allen

[Warren Webb]

Chuck, thats a good thought. Since this is in a 60 Lark it doesnt have a guage, just an idiot light. I'll see if I have one I can jury rig to get an idea on the engines health.

Thanks Allen but the trans is out now. This noise is just above idle, car in neutral & not moving. I have removed the trans to eliminate its possiblity.

[gordr]

Go all around the engine with the stethoscope. Could be a bad fuel pump, bad timing gears, end play in crank or camshaft. Maybe a bad distributor. Try putting a timing light on it, and see if the timing mark starts jumping when the knock appears.

[Warren Webb]

I've done the stethoscope thing & the noise is loudest from the bellhousing area. I disconnected the fan belt to make sure the water pump wasnt the culprit (although it sounded good with the stethoscope) as did the distributor. I'll check the timing tomorrow. Thanks Gord.

[Warren Webb]

Today the weather finally stopped raining so I removed the bell housing & cutch assy. All springs on the disc & pressure plate are tight as are the bolts to the flywheel. Looks like the problem is in the engine itself-not what I had wanted. I'm going to reinstall the bell housing & starter & fire it up to make sure. Thanks all for your help.

[Dan Timberlake]

so you have not checked the flywheel>to>crank bolts yet?

[Warren Webb]

Yes I have. I'm going to bolt on the bell housing & start the engine to eliminate any other possiblities after I pressure wash the parts first. If I dont some might think I'm doing an Al Jolson immitation!

[karterfred88]

Have you removed the flywheel and examined the back side to see if there has been any contacting spots, and then have the center section of the flywheel in the bolt area checked for hairline cracks as it might be flexing in the hub areaand check the ring gear welds. While the bolts are out check to see if any sign of hitting anything on the tips, then for fun check the crank end runout for wobble. I'd do that before putting anything back in, just sayin.