the 85 has a small knock - top end???

[85crownHPP]

I've begun to notice a little tapping/knocking coming out of the 85 lately...
It idles quiet and doesnt do it if you rev it in neutral, it does it mostly at high-load low RPMs, like pulling off from a stop.

Shes got a 50K fresh bottom end, and shes always had good oil pressure, so Im hoping this could maybe be a stuck lifter - clogged pushrod - noisy valve type thing?? What do those things sound like???

This is quiet enough that turning up the radio drowns it out, but its there, and I want it to go away.

Also, I started it yesterday after a week or so of sitting, and something knocked LOUD for the first 1/2 second at startup... it made me want to cry a little, it shocked me so much... after the 1/2 second it went away completely and was idleing smooth as silk... wtf is going on????

[Mercmarquis]

How old is your starter? Check to make sure the bendix isnt flopping around and smacking your flywheel. Thats what mne did and it scared the shit out of me, I thought my motor was gone.

If that dont fix it, throw some heavier wieght oil in and see if it clears up.

[Tiggie]

Also, I started it yesterday after a week or so of sitting, and something knocked LOUD for the first 1/2 second at startup... it made me want to cry a little, it shocked me so much... after the 1/2 second it went away completely and was idleing smooth as silk... wtf is going on????

Lots of cars will do this if you start them just to move them to another spot. The next time you go to start it, it's some loud knocking for the first second. I don't know what causes, it's like a lifter leaks down or something.

Valvetrain problems are usually more of a tap than a knock as you know. Is the oil pressure the exactly the same as it used to be? A blockage anywhere could have a negative effect on oil pressure. Maybe one of the rockers is loosing up and needs to be retorqued?

[p71towny]

My 82 has a bit of a knock on startup, but after lucas its went away. I had some tapping too, but after runnin some tranny fluid (cause it was leakin oil so bad and I was out of oil) that cleaned up and went away. Now its the quietest its ever been after this last oil change.

[Freshmeat]

Run some Marvel Mystery Oil in your oil system and let it idle for about half an hour. That may help clear it up.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Pull the valve covers and make sure all the rockers are tight.

As for th start up knock, that is from the oil draining away from the bearings when you start it it takes that half second to build pressure. My 97 knocks on start up till the oil gets to the top of the motor, and it has a tick while idleing in gear.

[85crownHPP]

Im hoping the loud startup knock, which has never happened before, is just her way of telling me its been too long since I started her... shes got 10w30 synthetic blend in her, maybe its too slick???
I just took her for a cruise and the noise seems quieter... maybe since its warmer out??? or maybe the loud startup noise was a lifter freeing up??

I tried to capture the noise in a video, you might not even be able to hear it over the exhaust and AOD spaceship sound....

[p71towny]

My 95 has that tick on the top end. I pulled the pass valve cover, poured some motor honey over the cam and fired it up and was quiet for a sec. Now Im looking for a new engine.

[Freshmeat]

Oh- if you're running synthetics, MMO probably won't help much. The detergent level in synthetics should keep everything very clean in there.

[85crownHPP]

heres the video - turn your sound WAY up and you can barely make it out... I wish this camera had a mic input so I could mount one under the hood...

Im gonna pull the valve covers right now and make sure they are snug (dont have a torque wrench...)

[85crownHPP]

well none of the rockers have any play that i can feel in the direction they "rock", but a couple of them I could just barely twist back and forth like a radio knob just a tiny bit. Is that normal?

I also tore the cork gaskets removeing the covers... so I went and got some rubber ones...
Since "not having new gaskets" was my excuse for not putting the aluminum mustang valve covers on, I finished up the valve cover vacuum solenoid relocation so I can put those on everything would still work vacuum-wise.
As long as I can polish up this other valve cover good enough (not going for mirror or anything close) I should have pics tonight!

[AOD]

Wow...that car shifts the gears so quickly...TV pressure is wicked low or way stock!

I couldn't hear a tick...but how old is the top end of the car? You mentioned the lower is fresh...but what about the top end?

~Adam

[85crownHPP]

it seems to shift fine to me... I was only going 40 by the end with barely any throttle. What do you mean "wicked low or way stock"?? does it seem low, or stock? I dont get it.
anyway, the top end is sure to have upward of 200K on it. due for a freshening i suppose

[1987LTDmasta]

he means its shifting like a grandma car.. no hard shifting like the mustang

and i didnt hear squat.

rule of thumb: when your car sits for an extended period of time, let the car IDLE for a good 1/2 hour before driving. i do this with the SQ and never had any problems.

i did have another issue tho.. i was losing fuel pressure. for a while it would take some effort to start it up. after a few days it went away.

[Mercmarquis]

if you mean that clicking sound, check your starter cause it sounds exactly like when mine went... I mean a starter is alot less $$ than a new motor and certainly easier to fix.