Well like a year after I originally found out about it I finally have my trans am, its an 82 with 40k on it and it loaded with leather interior, well I changed plugs, wires, all fluids, and lubed up everything (the car has been sitting since sometime around 1995)
well a week ago i finally got it started and it runs pretty nice and pretty smooth, well except for the loud noise coming from somewhere in the engine compartment, its a really loud thumping noise, i took all the belts off to make sure it wasnt a power steering pump or anything, unfourtunately it wasnt. I have the noise traced down to the left side of the engine (I have the left valve cover off) but thats about as far as i can get. The noise is very inconsistent. Small possiblity a bolt might have ended up in the carb. or somewhere in the motor. another though is a bad timing chain, i dont think its a bad rod since its inconsistent but then again im not very good with insides of engines, well if anyone knows whats going on or what to check next drop me a line cause right now my cars torn apart and sitting cause im not sure whats next

 

I wont be of much help but that really sucks. Ive had my third gen for a month and its been on the road for a total of 2 days. I love these cars to death but they love to break and love to break expensive. Hope someone can help you out, from the sounds of it though you might have to take it to a shop if your not comfortable with tearing it apart your self.

 

Is it maybe more of a ticking sound? If it is, check how tight your exhaust manifolds are.. they may be loose. If they are, get a new set of gaskets and tighten them up.

 

Nope to loud to be a gasket, im asking someone about it tomorrow but hopfully someone on here might know

 

Sounds like a spun main bearing. If you give it some RPM's does it get louder? Like a "kwock-kwock-kwock" noise?