Sounds of Silence (Not)

zzmac · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 01:32 PM

I have three different sounds I need help in identifying. I'm running a Roush 402 / Tremec 500

1. The first one is 2-3 short screeching sounds when I start the car (cold). It sounds like the belt which I've lubricated but no help. I recently re and re'd the alternator - maybe in reinstalling I didn't line everything back up exactly (although it looks good)??

2. When I come to a complete stop, I can hear something spinning/whirring for 2-3 seconds and then it stops. My guess is a pilot bearing/bushing?? Or is this sound normal?

3. The last sound is a constant ticking sound coming from the engine when I'm driving. I checked the header bolts at the block and they're tight. Car seems to run fine, anything to be concerned with here?

Thanks for lending an ear.

marcalan · #2 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 01:37 PM

For number 1, I went thru this a few times, the only way I got it to go away was to decrease the belt size and make sure it was as tight as I could get it. I usually have to re-tighten every season, no idea as to why.

Could the ticking for number 3 be a lifter?

m-a

Three Peaks · #3 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 01:42 PM

First two sound like they could be a throwout bearing problem. The third item sounds like it could be a blown out exhaust header gasket.

Bob

DAVID GAGNARD · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 02:02 PM

Had that same ticking sound on my 65 fastback, sounded like the it was on the drivers side of the motor, then one day when I started it up, I took a spray bottle of water and sprayed on the headers at the heads looking for a leak and found one....

It was a tiny pin hole in one of the header pipe welds at the flange....no big deal, once I found the problem, I never worried about it again....My headers are ceramic coated and didn't want to ruin the coating to weld up the hole....

Try spraying some water around the headers when you first start up the motor and see if you have a leak there, cheapest,easiest place to start........

David

Got the Bug · #5 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 03:14 PM

zzmac,

I also have a Roush 402.

If you're running a chrome alternator, chances are the pulley is chrome. You might want to try ruffing up the V groove of the pulley with a little light sand paper. The other thing you can try, is to remove the coil wire and have someone turn over the motor while you run a small wire brush over the belt to remove any glazing.

The other thing to look at with the alternator, is the clearance between the alt fan blades and the body. It would have been a nice touch if SPF would have put a little indentation in the engine compartment to accommodate the low alternator. I've got the smallest belt possible (as tight as possible) and it still has (over time) grazed the side of the engine compartment.

The fans may automatically come on if the engine hits temp, so maybe you're hearing them cycle on and off. May not be the whirring noise...just a guess.

About the ticking noise. If you get a chance, see if you can compare the noises you're hearing to someone else's Roush 402 or 427. I had an exhaust leak and it was so loud that I thought I'd broken a rocker. The clicking that you're hearing may just be normal sounds from the valve train.

Best bet maybe to take a ride in another SPF that has a similar set up.

Silverback51 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 03:41 PM

Take the belt off and start it up.

zzmac · #7 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 04:08 PM

Thanks for some good suggestions guys.

I'll recheck the alternator pulley and the belt.

The whirring/spinning sound seems to be coming from the clutch area, somewhere under the shifter.

I'll check the suggestions for possible exhaust leaks. I just read on another forum that roller engines like this inherently make the ticking noise. If no exhaust leaks maybe everything's fine? I actually like the ticking sound if it's supposed to be normal.

DAVID GAGNARD · #8 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 06:19 PM

Solid roller cams will tick or be "noisy" under the hood, if your motor has a hydraulic roller cam, there should be no ticking or noise per se on the top end of the motor, unless there is a very loose rocker arm. If the rocker arm was not adjusted correctly or has lost it's adjustment, then it may have "clearance" between the roller tip and the valve, which it should not........

With the engine idling and the ticking noise going on, you should be able to at least determine which side of the motor it's coming from and start from there......

My bet is on an exhaust leak,either the header itself or the gasket....

David

WildBill1965 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 06:45 PM

OK, been there done that with the ticking noise! Thought I had a problem, still don't like the noise, but talked to Roush and they had me take it back to Oltoff's shop. They previsuly had me adjust the valves (hydrolic rollers). When Dennis checked them I had them a little tight but ok. Drove the car and still had the noise questioned Dennis about it. he then brought out two new cars and ran them, See same noise in valve train noise. I assume you have the Scorpion roller rockers I have herd that other people have changed to other brand of roller rockers and eliminated some of the noise. So far I just live with it, motor runs good!

zzmac · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 07:24 PM

Re- 2-3 Short screeching noises when starting engine.

I thought it might have been the alt blades when the engine twisted a bit but it would happen all the time if that was the case. Besides the body of the alternator rests against the fenderwell when tight keeping the blades away from hitting (close though).

I haven't had a lot of time yet to play around with this much. But I loosened the belt just a touch to see what happens and it started screeching like a sumabitzch. So I took the belt off and I lightly removed the glaze from the belt with my dremel and put it back on as tight as I could and got the 2-3 short screeches again. I'm guessing that the screeching noise is coming from the belt slipping a little bit for a few seconds until it catches?? Otherwise it's a little puzzling why it just stops and doesn't do it when I start the engine after it's warmed up. Does anyone have a part number for a shorter belt that will fit? Does a narrower belt matter or just a slightly shorter one that I can tighten a little better? Thx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

zzmac,

I also have a Roush 402.

If you're running a chrome alternator, chances are the pulley is chrome. You might want to try ruffing up the V groove of the pulley with a little light sand paper. The other thing you can try, is to remove the coil wire and have someone turn over the motor while you run a small wire brush over the belt to remove any glazing.

The other thing to look at with the alternator, is the clearance between the alt fan blades and the body. It would have been a nice touch if SPF would have put a little indentation in the engine compartment to accommodate the low alternator. I've got the smallest belt possible (as tight as possible) and it still has (over time) grazed the side of the engine compartment.

The fans may automatically come on if the engine hits temp, so maybe you're hearing them cycle on and off. May not be the whirring noise...just a guess.

About the ticking noise. If you get a chance, see if you can compare the noises you're hearing to someone else's Roush 402 or 427. I had an exhaust leak and it was so loud that I thought I'd broken a rocker. The clicking that you're hearing may just be normal sounds from the valve train.

Best bet maybe to take a ride in another SPF that has a similar set up.

Got the Bug · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 09:06 PM

zzmac,

Try taking your existing belt down to your local parts store and buy the next smaller size belt. The adjustment tolerances are so tight that you may need to notch out the alternator bracket a little to give you some room to get the belt over the pulley.

The belt I'm running is Goodyear PN 15386.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

zzmac · #12 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 09:42 PM

Hey Got The Bug, that Goodyear belt did the trick, thanks a lot. I was able to squeeze it on and the screeching disappeared. Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions as well.

Now on to the ticking..........

Got the Bug · #13 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzmac

Hey Got The Bug, that Goodyear belt did the trick, thanks a lot. I was able to squeeze it on and the screeching disappeared. Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions as well.

Now on to the ticking..........

Glad to hear that worked out. I think you're going to find that the ticking noise is normal. There was a recent thread about this on SCOF. A couple of people mentioned that some Roush motors came (maybe still come with) Scorpion rocker arms and that they can be a bit loud.