I know the bottom ends in these motors tend to be tough, but wondering if anyone who has suspected they have a rod, end trust, or piston pin knock monitered thier oil pressure prior to any failure?

 

So, why don't you make this easier and describe your truck and what you are experiencing?

 

well i had written about it on here in the past and i suppose due to the warmer weather the noise is getting more noticable. first off im waiting on a oil sample kit for the closest place that will test the oil, before i go tearing it apart. so the noise. engine has just shy of 90k on clock, bought with 50k and has seen nothing but mobile1 and lucas other than a dexron flush trying to see if it was a lifter. this knock can only be heard when dropping the truck into a driving gear from park, makes no noise in idle. with a stethescope i really cant find and area of the motor, trans or exhaust that will pronounce the knock. maybe a tad louder on the back of the engine as fished through the coil pack, but its more metallic than lifter noise which is making me think a rod or trust bearing due to the fact it happens when placed in gear...

 

Have you considered doing an oil pressure test?

 

well thats why i asked if anyone else had monitered oil pressure with like symptoms. to be honest if i throw the guage on it and its one psi under the max, ill have the motor out and apart, which is fun but im in school full time and could stand to not throw 1k on a rebuild rite now. with all i have researched about the improvements in bottom and strenght with this engine i guess i dont want to believe i could indeed have an issue with the bottom end.

 

First that wouldn't be wise. Go get the pressure read, cold at idle, 2000 RPM's when cold, warm at idle and 2000 RPM's, then get back to us.

 

When the cats fall apart they tend to rattle and it can sound like a knock.
It is very doubtful that it is the engine, you might want to check the tourqe convertor bolts, the ones that bolt to the flywheel.

 

Have someone you trust (not insurance recipient) got thru the motions while you lay under it with s'scope - if it's like my '97 you can pull the converter cover off & see if your converter bolts are loose.

that my be why you hear it @ back of engine near bell housing.

just a thought.

luck,greg

 

thanks for the input. i popped the little access cover off the bottom of the bell housing and luckly had a bolt rite in front of me, now i dotn see how you would tighten them from this point as there is little clearence to the bolt heads, also i stuck a pry bar in there and there was no movement between the t/c and the flywheel nor did it appear to loose for the flywheel to the crank. do you have to pull the starter to reall get in there at those bolts of did i miss something? cats sounded fine as well. im gonna try the guage in my next course at school. oil sample will ship out monday....

 

I agree with spike. Check the bolts coz there might be some bolts that are knocked loose. Prepare your engine bolt kits for your car's convenience. Coz you might need to replace some other bolts as well.