Last night I drove to my friends house about 70miles away. On my way back I noticed an odd tapping. Today I tracked it down to the rear of the engine compartment, possibly below the engine. It occurs around 1800-2500 rpms or so, in all gears. I'm makin a trip from Orlando to cocoa in her tomorrow (about an hour or so trip) and she is still running perfectly strong, just the 'tap' is really annoying...need some help on what it might be...(recently I added headers/catback and the engine was apparently lifted or dropped to complete the install...(mechanics did not know what they were doing, I've fixed several of their screw ups myself since the install: Spark plug wire, unbolted exhaust pipes, wire rubbing header, stearing 'case' rubbing header, alternator cable rubbing belt and intake setup.)). I still have the AIR and EGR in the car running, tho the headers are race design.
http://media.putfile.com/MovieCar

 

I just watched the spun bearin video in another thread in this section...and it sounds like the higher pitched tapping in that video....someone please tell me thats not a major problem

 

Connecting Rod bearing.
These can be replaced by removing the oil pan and rod ends. Hardest part is just getting the pan off.

 

If you have an Automatic trans, check the torque converter bolts and make sure they are tight. 1 thats loose even a little will sound similar.

 

I've just recorded a video which I should have up here shortly with the sounds. I have a manual tranny. Is this something that can still be driven or should I cancel my 60-90min each way trip tomorrow?

 

it could be a cracked flexplate as well

 

I've got the video ready for upload, but the website said it was corrupted after it was successfully uploaded...

 

Start with the easy things first. Eliminate the possibiliteis of a leaky header gasket or loose spark plug.

 

I think i'm just gonna take it to Tibbits auto repair and get the whole damn car checked over. The mechanics really ****ed it up when they installed the headers(sorry for the language, and it was a mom n pop shop that couldnt even speak english...). Lesson to be learned: you get what you pay for..even though I payed 320 for installation...

 

I would advise against that just because whoever checks out the car may try to convince you the engine needs to be rebuilt and they are "sure" it's a rod knock or yadda yadda yadda....
Does the tap get louder when you accellerate? If not sure, then drive the car, put it in a high gear at low mph and push the gas pedal and listen. If the "tap" gets louder then more than likely it is a leakey header gasket. A loose spark plug really isn't noticeable until low rpm or idle.
Get a wrench on your header bolts and spark plugs to see if any of them are loose before taking the car in.
Just a suggestion...

 

It does start out low when idling and gettin louder/higher in pitch around 2k rpms...Anyone know a quick video hosting site I can toss my video on? I really think it'd help if you guys can hear whats happening, but cz28 keeps screwin up the upload...

 

didn't work..

 

Ok, heres a working video...please comment and give your opinions to the sounds....

http://media.putfile.com/MovieCar

 

Really no need to start another thread about this...
Regarding the vid... That shat doesn't sound good at all. That's one of those noises where you should not drive the car until you find out what it is.
Really hard to say what it could be, but whatever it is it sounds like metal on metal.

 

Yea i figured it wasnt good...but I dont have a clue what it really is...spun bearing seems to be what everyone is leaning towards. The other thread was cause many ppl had looked at this one and seen the busted cz28link. Once i found another host, I figured ppl may not look here again.