Spinning a bearing? It was knocking before we even took it out for a ride? Can it spin a bearing at idle?

Can you hear it?

The car is still drivable and the power still puts you in your seat, just doesn't let the tires loose.

 

Also... to get to the rockers, can you do that through the valve covers, or you have to take apart the entire motor again?

 

Your answer is only a search away. I believe shoebox has a walk through.

 

The Rockers are right underneath the valve covers, so then it should be an easy fix then right? That looks pretty simple... right? L0L

Just take off the valve covers, find out which one is to loose/tight... fix it. Put that valve covers back on and hope for the best?

 

What rockers are they? If Crane Gold 1.6's they will fit under stock covers.. most others need the valve covers modified..
I'd pull the valve covers.. and since the car runs, adjust the valves with the car running[Gomer proof! ] and also see if that 'knock' goes away with the covers off..
That'll help narrow to it down, and isn't that hard to do[maybe an hour or so total]

 

Comp 1.6RR (1318-16) from Combination Motor Sports.

My friend thinks its a rod knock, because its such a loudass hard knock... think its a possibility? But doesn't a rod knock REALLLLLLLLLY CUT OFF tons of power?

 

I'd do what I said and pull the valve covers and run it to see if the knock 'goes away'[assuming you can you hear it at idle?]
Those rockers I am quite sure need the covers modified to fit..

 

I will tell you what happened to me with my new 383 a couple weeks ago when I got it running. I had the guys who built the engine install a set of Comp Rs that I had bought off a fellow board member here. I fired it up and had a tick that bordered on more of a knock. I was pretty scared. It turned out to be those lifters. They just would not pump up and support the lift of the cam or overcome the tension of the valve springs. Basicly they were shot. I swapped out the lifters with a NEW set of Comp Rs and it was fixed, no more noise and gobs more power, and yes the cam thumped better.

 

These are brand new... that can't be it. I would flip out and punch someone if that was the case, but that does sound like it. Hopefully the rocker arms are hitting the valve covers pretty hard and can't get the full extension up for the valves for the cam.

 

Take the covers off and run the engine at idle or something. You shouldnt get too much if any oil anywhere. You could adjust the rockers yourself too, but i would make the guy do it. A knock is bad. Yes letting it idle coudl make your engine lock. I'm thinking a guy, installing his first cam. Drains the oil, forgets to put new oil back in. So excited he got it done in under the alotted time, that he fires her up, admires his work.... Oh **** he forgot oil!. Spinning a bearing at idle is no problem without oil. It could be that. It could be alot of things. He could have dropped something down into your engine when installing it. I would start by removing the valve covers though.

 

Yes, get the covers off and see what's up..
I fold a sheet of newspaper section in half down the middle, then fold a few inches of each of the ends 90 degrees to fit into where the valves end in the head, and that catches all the oil... and then toss the newspaper when done.. saves mess on the inner fenders, etc.. [though at a low idle they really don't throw much oil..]