Just one more idea, happened to me on a big Ford -
Clanking noise, I thought it was crank hitting the oil pump shaft, or timing chain hitting something, loose rod, rods hitting oil pan, etc. Tore half the motor apart looking.
Turns out, a high spot on the damper was banging on the timing tab. Oh so slight but very scary noise, sounded internal. Simple fix. DUH. But no harm done except a couple wasted gaskets.
