Knocking 3.8

[Skip Fix]

OK guys, my daughters 94 3.8 with 50 K miles started knocking when you rev it to 2000 rpm or above even in neutral. It has always run like a "pig" even slower than I would expect from only 145 hp pushing it. Can blip the throttle and it doesn't even rev untril about the time you have already closed the throttle.MAF was bad but even a new one didn't make a big impact.

You could rotate the motor by hand and hear a clunk. Balancer is OK not worn, no loose convertor bolts.

The knocking sounds high like under the intake plenum. Sounds like a rod, wrist pin but high. In the process of pulling motor, pulled pan and all the rods look good no heat color change or loose rods.

We'll pull it this weekend and look it all over.Any other areas to look at?

What things would be cost effective to pick it up a little in performance while out for a daily driver for a high school kid? before this she drove my 81 Trans Am that had a stock 400 motor, and definitely a step down in performance,but fewer miles ie things to go wrong, and an air bag than the TA.

Maybe add a 4.2 crank?

[Skip Fix]

Update for you all. It ended up being the wire from the head gasket had squeezed between the piston and quench area of the head and was getting hit as the motor reved.

[rydog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skip Fix Update for you all. It ended up being the wire from the head gasket had squeezed between the piston and quench area of the head and was getting hit as the motor reved.

Well thats some random shit there

[Brent]

Yea don't hear about that happening very often.

[silverstangboy]

interesting indeed.

the only thing performance wise that I would even really consider might be to have someone lightly port the heads and intake... leave the cam ALONE!

[meteorachick]

i definately would not have thought that