Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Engine knock under load

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 09:43 PM
  #1  
Goldenbullet44's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kansas city, Kansas
Car: 1985 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 305 smallblock aftermarket cam
Transmission: Borg warner T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Engine knock under load

I'm having a knock from the rear of the engine when it is under a load i backed off timing alot still does it i dont know what the problem is i run 87 octane running a 305 with a qjet its the H.O version hooked up to a 5 speed t-5 can sombody help me i was told it might be the pilot bearing but i dont know...
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 09:58 PM
  #2  
skirkland1980's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 4
From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Engine knock under load

probably a rod bearing or wrist pin bore or a combination of the two. when that happens the piston slaps the head. or could be excessive piston to bore clearance. if its not internal engine noise then i don't know what else it could be.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:04 PM
  #3  
marc12321's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Monroe, Nj
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 355 4bbl
Transmission: tko 600
Axle/Gears: 12bolt 3.73
Re: Engine knock under load

if it still runs good but does it it might be a spun bearing witch is usualy the problem
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:20 PM
  #4  
Apeiron's Avatar
Moderator
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 11
From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Engine knock under load

In a stock engine there's about .050 or .060" of clearance between the piston and the head, you'd have to be beyond worn in order for them to make contact.

What kind of a knock is it? A rattle, or something more solid and mechanical sounding? How did you locate it to the rear of the engine?
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:31 PM
  #5  
skirkland1980's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 4
From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Engine knock under load

i've seen impressions of pistons on the bottoms of cylinder heads from engines with a little knock and the cause was a worn/spun rod bearing. deck clearance varies on most stock engines anyway and most are not square either.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:31 PM
  #6  
Goldenbullet44's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kansas city, Kansas
Car: 1985 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 305 smallblock aftermarket cam
Transmission: Borg warner T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Engine knock under load

Well it sounds like a knock/ping from teh very rear only does it under load strange thing is it doesnt do it all the time ... the way i found out it is from the rear i opened the hood pulled the e brake and had somebody listen when i put a load on the engine and they said its from the very back of the motor.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:36 PM
  #7  
Goldenbullet44's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kansas city, Kansas
Car: 1985 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 305 smallblock aftermarket cam
Transmission: Borg warner T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Engine knock under load

It wont make noise when the engine is at idle or im im cruising but i think when im crusing the engine is louder then the knock/ping sound and my timing is backed off a ways i thought that was the problem but it isnt i really hope its not a main bearing or rod bearing but i was told that it will hammer all the time with a rod bearing going bad idk about a main though.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:36 PM
  #8  
skirkland1980's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 4
From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Engine knock under load

one thing you could check is crankshaft end play. the thrust bearing is vulnerable on manual trans cars.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:45 PM
  #9  
Goldenbullet44's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kansas city, Kansas
Car: 1985 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 305 smallblock aftermarket cam
Transmission: Borg warner T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Engine knock under load

Originally Posted by skirkland1980
one thing you could check is crankshaft end play. the thrust bearing is vulnerable on manual trans cars.
Is that the throwoutbearing?
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 10:51 PM
  #10  
skirkland1980's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 4
From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Engine knock under load

its the rear-most main bearing. it keeps the crank from walking front-to-back. its easy to check if you have a dial indicator (with the engine still in the car) you can probably find a video of it on youtube.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 01:56 PM
  #11  
redtruck18's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, GA
Car: 1987 RS Camaro
Engine: 305 V8 (Carb)
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Engine knock under load

if its a rod/piston issue usually you're going to only make it worse by driving... i had a slight, random knock... after a few VERY short trips to and from the parts store... it sounded like i was driving a jack hammer down the road. I also noticed a serious loss in power. I say all this to let you know, fix the problem before driving it. I though mine was top end, tore the heads apart, redid them, and still the knock was there. As far as under load vs. idle, at idle, the knock comes and goes... under load, nice and loud, and consistent.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
4
Sep 17, 2020 08:26 AM
Andrew6.688
TPI
10
Dec 13, 2015 10:59 AM
db057
Tech / General Engine
4
Aug 22, 2015 08:17 PM
bradleydeanuhl
DFI and ECM
4
Aug 12, 2015 11:48 AM
gwade12
Tech / General Engine
1
Aug 8, 2015 08:17 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:34 AM.