Inliners International Forums General Discussion MOPAR Clicking noise when cold

My '48 Dodge 230 has a sound that is what I would call a heavy clicking when cold. The engine is noisier generally when cold., but i can hear a distinct click that stands out .
After running five minutes the engine is fairly quiet including the louder click. Nothing. I'm wondering if it could be a lifter that has quieted down after expanding or maybe a wrist pin.
As long as it is up to operating temperture, it's quiet and smooth.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, P6'38

I had an engine noise that started out this way. It would go away completely when the engine warmed up, initially. But over time, it got worse and no longer dissapeared as the engine came up to temp.

As the noise worsened, it started to sound like a rod bearing knock.

I had about 7500 miles on the engine by the time I pulled the pan and inspected and measured the bearing clearances, and found all of them to be fine.

It turned out to be a wrist pin bushing that had spun in the rod end. It took me forever to figure out what was the source of the noise, but I finally determined which hole it was in by removing the plug wires one at a time while the engine was running. When the noise was faint early on, I could not tell with the plug wire test where it was. But when it got loud and continuous, it was obvious.

Pete

I'm curious: Did removing the plug wire thereby omit the plug firing and reduce the piston pressure thus lessening the force on the wrist pin bushing? And then the sound lessened?

Yes. I had the engine running, pulled the plug wires one at a time. When I found the cylinder that seemed different with the plug off, I set the plug wire on, and then off, repeated until I was sure I'd found the noise. Plug on=bad noise, plug off=no noise.

Since I had already pulled the pan and measured and inspected the bearings with plastiguage, I knew it had to be in the piston.

I was fortunate that the wrist pin and piston were fine. I was worried that the pin had "walked" to one side, and was chewing into the cylinder wall. Since the only thing wrong was the bushing, I had it replaced and back on the road without too much trouble.

Dear P6 38;

"Clicking noises" can be a tough one, like blue skies found out. If It's gone when the engines is hot in may be 'internal', like his was.

I used to disconnect the belts to eliminate all that, to start off. Then if it's still there try the plug test; as mentioned.

If still unsure, try a 'leak down' compression test.

Good luck.

Thaks for the replys. I'll try pulling the wires and see if that makes a difference.
If it doesn't get any louder and continues to go away by warm-up, I won't worry about it. This engine has an unknown amount of miles on it, but no smoke and oil stays resonably clean.
Blue Skies-thanks for the pics.
Jim

You might also get yourself one of these, a mechanic's stethoscope. They are about $15. You can hear every little nuance inside your engine, and it will be easier to track down the noise if the plug wire test doesn't tell you anything.

Pete

That's a very refined version of placing your ear on the handle end of a long screwdriver.
Thanks for answering my question.

I pulled the wires one at a time and I can't hear a difference in the click. After warm-up it's quiet.
I drive it all most every day, around 100 miles per week, so I'll continue to monitor the click.
Jim

You could just have a single valve that is just slightly loose, and quiets down when everything expands due to heat. Been there, done that.

Marty

Thanks Marty.
I hope thats that's what's happenin'
Jim

P6;

Marty' could be right as; the "wire test" would only show something to do with a piston, pin, rod or rod bearing etc.

Good luck.

Thanks John,
I'll keep driving, and see what develops.
P6

I had the same noise in my engine and Pete ( Blueskies) Anderson listened to it at Bonneville, the engine was hot and the noise had quited down some. Have torn the engine down since arriving home because the rod will rock on the piston pin on #4 and#6 cylinders. At sometime I did something that caused the white metal on all six rod bearings to wear through to the copper and scored all six throws on the crankshaft but the mains are all ok. The piston pins are loose in the two rod bushings and will rock about .005 up and down in the bushing. The click is the play in the pin bushing when the piston reverses direction. Also had broken top ring on #5 and #6 pistons. Can almost guarentee that the click will grow louder as the rod bushing gains clearance. Before leaving on a 4600 mile round trip mine was not too loud but by the time I got home it was very loud when cold, pulling the plug wires made no difference. Click was not loud when the engine was warm.

After listening to the "clicking" for a few weeks it seems to be getting a little louder [my imagination?]. also it seems to be a double click. Pin bushing?
It is quiet when it warms up. I guess it could still be a loose valve. I'll have to wait and see.
P6'38

The noise doesn't seem to be any louder yet. I've probably driven 300 miles since last post. Wil keep listening.
Jim