86 Suburban, warwgn's build.

[warwgn]

Thanks for the suggestion, I should have explained the full project, these are also going to house 12" Subwoofers on each side in the back so the MDF was the best choice for that application due to the density. Both boxes will be covered with the same carpet as the floor. So the wood will be out of sight anyway, and the arm rests toward the front will be covered with vinal or felt or something so they are soft and comfortable.

I always wanted to put a really good sound system in my vehicles as a kid and never could, so now that I can I am, has nothing to do with needs this project is really all about want ROFSheriffHL:

 

[warwgn]

My wife loves the kids, so she bought me some floor mats to save them from getting tossed out the window if the spill some **** on my new carpet.

 

[warwgn]

Now I will be side tracked a bit, yesterday it started knocking when it was cold but would mostly go away when warmed up. Not sure what it was or is but started to think it was exhaust because it was not a real knock if that makes sence. Anyway tonight on the way home it hanged and started doing it loud while warm and was a k ocking banging sound. Parked it and still does it, cant really tell where its coming from but sounds more like the passenger side and louder underneath almost like it is transmission related. Seems to run fine but dang it is loud and has me really concerned.

Not real sure where to start other than waiting for daylight tomorrow and pulling the plugs and maybe the valve cover on that side. Gonna get under it and turn it over slow by hand and see if I can hear anything that might clue me in. Did see lot of oil leak still and cant figure out where it is all coming from, might be rear main, if I cant figure it all out might have to pull the engine and do a tear down to inspect.

I sure hope it's not a rod or bearing or some **** like that, gonna drive me crazy and have my stress level up till I figure it out though.

 

[warwgn]

So after sleeping on it, my plan is unbolt torque converter and slide it back then start the engine. This will isolate the issue to the engine or the trans, if the noise is gone it will be either the flexplate or the converter bolts or the trans itself somehow?

If the noise is still there, then the next step will be pull the valve covers and check rocker arms and see if a lifter collapsed or something like that. If that dont pan out it's drain the fluids and pull the core support out and buy a cherry picker cause the engine will have to come out so I can pull the pan and check the rod and crank bearings.

If it's in the engine at least I can fix any leaks it has re-do the headlights and a few other things while the engine is out and clean and repaint the engine compartment eaisly. Who knows how much extra I will spend though to "fix" what dont need to be fixed along with what does need to be fixed.....

 

[piratexpress1369a]

great build

 

[warwgn]

Torque converter bolts are loose!!!

Now just need to figure out the problem, they are loose cause I took them out and slid the converter back and yep still knocking. Took the belt off too just to make sure it was not the water pump or ac compressor or belt tensioner..and none of that made a difference it still knocked. Pulled the valve cover off to check the rockers and nothing jumped out and said look at me, couldnt really get in and turn the crank by myself and watch the rockers move so guess the engine is gonna be coming out.

Here is a pic of the rockers.

So guess the radio is gonna be on hold for a while, need to get a cherry picker now. So the rebuild will begin soon, got to pull the front core support out again so I can even reach the engine with a lift. Dang really bummed now, guess it has a spun bearing or something, at least I will get to double check all the parts in the engine and see what the guy actually used in there. Hell maybe change the pistons down to 9.5:1 so I can run low octane..... just dont k ow what to do, well cant do that since it is all balanced up as is. Better wait on planing changes until I get it apart and see what the damage is.

 

[Chevrolado]

Agh.. bummer! Terrible to hear that man.
I just went through the same issue this year with my Tahoe.
Hopefully you get it worked out soon!

 

[bowstryder]

Sorry to hear about the engine issue. Hopefully is something simple!

 

[piratexpress1369a]

that sucks know how you feel ..get a couple buds to come over and you will have it out in no time

 

[warwgn]

And so it begins.......again!

 

[Larry]

Ah, man… What a drag! Good luck, hopefully it turns out to be something simple. You did the smart thing by sliding back the converter and isolating the accessories before digging into the engine. I had a water pump fail on a 454HO that sounded just like a rod knock. Scared the hell out of me! And to make it worse Coloradobill and I were on top of Mt. Antero when it happened. We had to make a 3 hour ride back to Salida to get a water pump then change it right next to a stream bed. Ah, yeah….bunny huggers should have ******** themselves seeing all of the coolant leak right into the stream when we popped that water pump off! (just kidding, we caught all of the coolant in the drain pans we bought at the water pump store and proudly never spilt a drop :sombrero.

It seems engines aren’t cheap to rebuild these days either. Hell, here in Pueblo there isn’t even a machine shop to use if one wanted to build an engine. Everything must go to Colorado Springs or Denver for machine work. There is one guy in town that does heads but nobody is doing machining.

Wholy cow, why do you need to go through the hassles of pulling the radiator support off? I’ve had many of engines in and out of my 6” lifted K10 over past 17 years for various reasons (clutches, oil leak repairs, etc) and always pulled it right over the radiator support not to mention countless big trucks at the my dad’s shop in the old days. Just place jack stands under the frame, remove the front tires and lay her low. Your radiator support is even shorter on an 81-91 than the old flat nose 73-80. My cherry picker is nothing special either

Getting a 454HO back in 2003. Frame on jackstands

8.1L infusion in 2008. Frame on jackstands again

 

[warwgn]

I actually thought about doing it that way but, will need to move it backwards and forward to make room for my wife to be able to pull in and out of the garage. It's not really hard at all to pull all the core support out, I did it the first time to put the engine in so all the wiring and stuff is loomed and easy to pull in and out of the way. The other part is it sure makes it easy to reach in there and unbolt everything and after it is out will be a simple thing to clean and repaint the engine bay since I can just stand in there.

 

[piratexpress1369a]

there is always a good reason for what we do. what colour are you going to paint the engine bay

 

[warwgn]

was planning black, but now that you ask.....maybe I should do it in metalic charcoal to match the interior trim and stuff..Hmmmmm

 

[piratexpress1369a]

What about the inside of the hood

IN LOVING MEMORY....DAYKOTA.... I WILL MISS YOU