i have a pontiac firebird 2.8 liter that is haveing a knocking issue, i dont know what it is at first i thought it was a rod knocking then i wasnt so sure because its inconsistant so then i thought it was a rocker arm that had come loose but im not sure if thats it does anyone have any ideas?

Record an audio clip if you can.. could be something as simple as a rocker, yet a good audio clip/or video with audio can definitely help a better diag.

Take a prybar or long screwdriver and place it on different spots on the engine, then hold the other end to your ear, see if you can pinpoint where the noise is coming from. Top end, bottom end, left or right bank, front or rear. it might be a rod, lifter, rocker, injector maybe even too.

i tried the screw driver to the ear and me nor my father could figuer out where it was coming from it sounds as if its on the top right right

and the motor that was in it before (its still in the garage) had the same issue.

I have a slight "ticking" noise coming from the top of my motor. Im assuming its my injectors firing but i have no clue. Seeing as i am now shying away from the turbo build i was going to do and save the money for an ls1 swap(i have my eye on a mostly complete 4th gen that was hit in the rear lol)...my noise is not very loud tho. You can hear it if the hood is up but its bearly there. Maybe thats what your hearing too...

no what im hearing is really loud you can deffinatly here it while you drive and when it idles

Did you use the same ex. manifolds? I've heard a cracked one can make a sound similar to tapping/clicking..

yes but the spare motor i had did the same thing thats why i bought this one and i put 2000 more miles on this one and it started doing it

the ticking could be a colapsed lifter. they tend to fail over time either replace or tighten them up to be soild lifters. since they are hyd. lifters.