ka24de clacking (not timing guides)

[POScoupe]

So my ka24de is making a loud clacking noise accelerating at the 1800-3000rpm range, but does not clack on decel. Went to take out the upper timing chain guides and found the previous owner already had them removed. Anyone have any insight on this?

[shift_down]

Could be that your chains are slightly stretched out making that noise. Another possibility is that your tensioner is not working very well. How many miles on the car?

[POScoupe]

About to hit 170k. Nows about the time to start rebuilding?

[shift_down]

Do a compression check. If everything checks out fine, then change timing chains, sprocket, and tensioners.

[shift_down]

A lot of times that lower plastic guide will crack and make that noise, it is VERY COMMON! Then the chain makes that noise while eating away at the lower timing cover, eventually your oil and coolant mix like crazy, ruining your bearings and causing your motor to explode.

[POScoupe]

Thanks for the help shift_down, I'll get on that compression test today, any way I can check tht guide without taking that lower cover off?

[shift_down]

Taking the lower cover off sucks BIG TIME. So what I did is took my upper cover off and ooked down with a flash light.

[POScoupe]

Ugh I just took my upper timing cover off the other day! Guess I'll be doing it again soon

[shift_down]

BEFORE you pull it, make sure that is your problem. Describe the noise in better detail and Ill see if I can narrow it down. Take a video also.

[POScoupe]

Compression is 170 on cylinder 1 and 4, 175 on 2 and 3. 140 when cold. I'll post a video of the sound hopefully tomorrow. The clacking is loud at 1st startup and lasts a few seconds, quiets down till you rev a lil. Today it's louder. Noise is hard to explain. Doesn't sound fast enough to be valve train though.

[shift_down]

FSM States that the compression should be between 151 and 179 with no more than 15psi difference in cylinders. *This means your compression is great.

Check your oil and see if you notice any coolant mixing. I really hope there isn't. Once I hear that video I will be more able to give my opinion on whats going on.

[POScoupe]

And heres that video at cold start. Havent seen any cooland in the oil but ill be dropping the pan this afternoon or tomorrow, i'll give it another look. Mystery clacking ka24de - YouTube (http://youtu.be/pKXce5fvLks)

[Link]

dude. this exact thing happened to my car. m not sure if i still have the videos..ill look. but stop driving it. i kept driving it for like a week and the motor pretty much exploded. not sure what caused it though.

[POScoupe]

Yeah I'm driving my girlfriends studebaker till I figure this out

[shift_down]

Your motor is dead bud. Im sorry :/

That is rod knock. If this problem just recently happened, then your crank will be salvageable. But if you keep running the engine like that, it will destroy your crankshaft, and you wont be able to reuse it.

My advice:
If you want to build a motor with forged internals, now is a good time to do it. Pull your motor out and build it.
If you don't want to spend 2k on a built motor, then buy a used KA24DE and swap it in your car. Used motors are around 250$ dollars

[POScoupe]

Damn alright. Thanks for the help, I'll be on the for sale threads then