hello fellow F-body owners,

i'm new to this forum so don't get too angry at me if i do something wrong. i've been hearing a noise from the engine for quite some time now and i was wondering if you guys could help out my 1988 GTA 305/5.0L and me. this noise is best described as a chattering sound and it sounds like it is coming from the front of the engine. i bought this car off my brother and when i asked him about this sound he said it always did it, thoughi'm not sure if he's telling me the truth or not. do you guys think it could be the harmonic balancer telling me it's on it's way out?

Mark,NJ

P.S. all those who contribute important info will be reveared as GODS :hail:

 

my guess would be spark knock or preignition. use higher octane fuel and check/reset the timing

 

A.I.R. pump (aka "smog pump").

Mounted on the front of the engine, makes noise regardless of engine load, sounds like an upset squirrel when revs raised...

 

also check the idler pully on the auto-tensioner. The bearings went and the thing made that same type of noise. For taht matter. Most of the beltline accesories can make those types of noises when the bearings in them are getting ready to check out. Idler pully on the a/c compressor, w-pump, just to name a few that have done the same thing to me in the past.

 

thans alot guys

 

Could also be the water pump.

Use a piece of heater hose stuck in your ear as a stethoscope, and just listen to stuff with the other end of it until you locate the noise.