Before reassembling the engine it wasn't above 1500.
Now it is. Only it isn't nearly as noticeable. At 2k and above the engine speed has made the tapping into a muffled rapid clicking. Definately sounds like it's coming from the bottom end, and more so on the driver's side.
Definately doesn't sound like a rod knock to me.
Which I could only describe as a more hollow, wood knocking sound (which it does not have or do).
I would love that to be it though.
Cheap and simple.
Right now, I'm really thinking slipped sleeve. My engine seems to have the sound symptoms. But I have a hard time being sure, because the engine doesn't heat, and there is no CO2 in the coolant.
If it is slipped sleeve(s), and I keep this thing, I'm going to pin the sleeves. After alot of reading, it seems like a good solution. As far as I'm concerned anyway. If I drive it as is, it'll end up stranding me.
I still have a miss too, and an electrical gremlin to find.

 

I considered the flexplate also.
But there is no change in the tone or speed of the knock while shifting to or from any gear.

 

Am I thinking correctly that since the '03's and '04's have factory-pinned liners on the bottom that they could only slip in the *up* direction, and then only the vertical depth of the head gasket thickness if one went completely up through the gasket to the metal floor of the heads?

OK, IF...the above is correct, then the head gasket could be damaged towards the outer edge and you'd have exhaust coming outside through that gap, or the head gasket could be damaged in between cylinders such that exhaust was going from one to another (perhaps causing a miss), or the head gasket damage could be around an oil port or a coolant port (putting exhaust gasses into one/both)?

 

No exhaust gas in CO2.
Miss was not there before rebuild.
Fault 108 eludes to a short, ground, or bad connection.
I have retraced my steps several times and have yet to find anything wrong.
My conclusion so far is the above mentioned, and a slipping sleeve.
The tapping/ticking was there before the new parts.