Think I've hurt the little 5.3

Guys,
My engine is making this noise at idle. Turns into an intermittant peck at around 2000 rpm in part.
After I first started the truck up after the tranny install the noise was not there. Was there before shutting it down to change the transmission. As the truck warmed up the noise came back.

Clicky for the noise.wav

I've pulled the serpentine belt and AC belt and started it but was still there.

Engine idles fine, runs good, good oil pressure, temperature is normal. The PCM is not throwing any codes.

I pulled the plugs and all look normal. I took a look under the Valve cover on the passenger side today and found nothing wrong.

I really don't know what the noise is. I've heard spun rods but the ones I've heard knock. It isn't a knock.

A spun cam bearing? I've read this will screw up you oil pressure though.

I'm at a loss... I've heard many noises but none like this.

Any ideas?
TIA

Sounds like a loose torque convertor bolt. You didn't use stock convertor bolts on an aftermarket convertor did you? Damn Vig convertor bolts are only 10mm long(just over 3/8"). If you use too long of bolts they bottom out in the hole and never tighten on the flywheel.

I put in a TCI flexplate. It has pads at the TC lug area that are about 7mm thick. I didn't use the stock TC bolts. Think they were 15mm long though. Checked all that out before I put it in. They torqued up and didn't bottom out.

It's the same noise I had before the the tranny swap that I thought was flexplate, TC or tranny pump. Turns out it wasn't it appears.

Whine, squeal, whirr. Those type of sounds are usually associated with a bad bearing, but you need to isolate the area where the sound is coming from using a mechanics stethoscope at idle speed. Are you sure it's not something scraping on the inside of the bellhousing (metal against metal)?

Try unbolting the convertor and shoving it out of the way, then start it up to isolate the transmission totally and see if it still makes the noise. Also, are you 100% sure you don't have a bent pushrod in the valve train? That's what is sounds like to me. Take all the lifter loose and pull the rods and see if any of them don't roll straight. I've heard that noise before and it wasn't pretty.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tyson &#064; Feb 17 2006, 12&#58;28 AM) [snapback]44676[/snapback]</div>

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Whine, squeal, whirr. Those type of sounds are usually associated with a bad bearing, but you need to isolate the area where the sound is coming from using a mechanics stethoscope at idle speed. Are you sure it&#39;s not something scraping on the inside of the bellhousing (metal against metal)?
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I&#39;ve put a stethoscope to it. Only place I can hear it with the scope is if I place it upon the furthest rearward passenger valve cover bolt. Nothing on the bottom. I am positive there is nothing in the bellhousing scraping.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedHeartbeat &#064; Feb 17 2006, 12&#58;33 AM) [snapback]44678[/snapback]</div>

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Try unbolting the convertor and shoving it out of the way, then start it up to isolate the transmission totally and see if it still makes the noise. Also, are you 100% sure you don&#39;t have a bent pushrod in the valve train? That&#39;s what is sounds like to me. Take all the lifter loose and pull the rods and see if any of them don&#39;t roll straight. I&#39;ve heard that noise before and it wasn&#39;t pretty.
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I unbolted the TC before I pulled the old tranny. The noise went away. Now thinking about this.... I unhooked the TC after the truck had sat about a week. When I started it up after the tranny install the noise was not there. While it was idling and I was filling up the tranny the noise slowly came back. After about 3-4 minutes of running.

I&#39;m almost positive the noise isn&#39;t in the tranny. New tranny. TC sent back to PI and they say its okay, new flexplate. The noise was there before all of these parts were swapped.

I am not 100% certian that I do not have a bent pushrod. I am certian that I do not have a bent pushrod in the area the noise is coming from. chromemoly units. Tough SOB&#39;s and I inspected the passenger side.

I am 6.0 shopping today. Found a 04, LQ4, 9K miles for &#036;1500.

What wasn&#39;t pretty about this noise you&#39;ve heard before? I am thinking rod bearing. Engine only has 45K miles. Oil change frequently with Mobile 1. Never over 6K rpm.

The pushrod guide hole was egg-shaped due to the bent pushrod. Only way to fix it, drill it out larger and press in a bushing.....or buy another head. :thumbdown:

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I unbolted the TC before I pulled the old tranny. The noise went away. Now thinking about this.... I unhooked the TC after the truck had sat about a week. When I started it up after the tranny install the noise was not there. While it was idling and I was filling up the tranny the noise slowly came back. After about 3-4 minutes of running.[/b]

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Do you still have your stock TC. I would put that in and try it first, before I looked for another engine.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(foggy &#064; Feb 17 2006, 08&#58;32 AM) [snapback]44693[/snapback]</div>

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Do you still have your stock TC. I would put that in and try it first, before I looked for another engine.
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I sent the TC back to Precision Industries for a checkup before I put it back in. The noise is forward of the bellhousing I&#39;m pretty sure. In the engine.

Anyway I bought this today. A 6.0 was in the longer term plans. This just sped it up a bit. By the time I sell the accessories from it and anything usable from the 5.3 I&#39;ll be into it for 800 to 1000 I&#39;m guessing.

2003-6.0(LQ4) with 9000 miles.
http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/60.jpg


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedHeartbeat &#064; Feb 17 2006, 08&#58;21 AM) [snapback]44692[/snapback]</div>

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The pushrod guide hole was egg-shaped due to the bent pushrod. Only way to fix it, drill it out larger and press in a bushing.....or buy another head. :thumbdown:
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I&#39;ll check all the pushrods before I put them in the 6.0. On the 2 that I pulled yesterday, at the guide hole there were a half dozen flakes near the hole. The hole showed just a smidge of shiny not egg shaped. If anything rubbed I think it was the originals long ago. The pushrods themselves showed absolutley no sign of rubbing against anything. The ends were shiney from riding in the lifter and rocker.

I&#39;ll tear down the 5.3 when I get it out. I&#39;m thinking a rod bearing, piston, or wrist pin on #8 cylinder.

Man this sucks to hear,hope you get it figured out.I am curious also what it is,let us know bud

I am 6.0 shopping today. Found a 04, LQ4, 9K miles for &#036;1500.


Hey man were did you fine that at, is it just the longblock or complete motor thats exacly what I&#39;m lookin for..... Thanks 6.0L :drool:

Looking at the photo above, is that a performance mod on the alternator? Do you gain 5HP if you flip the fan belt upside down? I&#39;m gonna have to try that mod sometime. :smile:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedHeartbeat &#064; Feb 18 2006, 02&#58;31 PM) [snapback]44804[/snapback]</div>

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Looking at the photo above, is that a performance mod on the alternator? Do you gain 5HP if you flip the fan belt upside down? I&#39;m gonna have to try that mod sometime. :smile:
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good eye red&#33; i think the belt tensioner is broke and thats one way to take the slack out of it&#33;

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bad_Apple &#064; Feb 18 2006, 02&#58;17 PM) [snapback]44802[/snapback]</div>

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I am 6.0 shopping today. Found a 04, LQ4, 9K miles for &#036;1500.
Hey man were did you fine that at, is it just the longblock or complete motor thats exacly what I&#39;m lookin for..... Thanks 6.0L :drool:
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Complete motor. I&#39;ll have a lot of extra parts to sell and soften the cost.

Davis Salvage in Corbin, KY. Found it through car-part.com. They had 2 other 6.0. 1 more LQ4, mileage unknown, described as scorched. Looked at it but passed. Worried about seals and gaskets. They wanted 1000 for it. They also had an LQ9 with 60 something thousand on it. Wanted 1850 for it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedHeartbeat &#064; Feb 18 2006, 02&#58;31 PM) [snapback]44804[/snapback]</div>

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Looking at the photo above, is that a performance mod on the alternator? Do you gain 5HP if you flip the fan belt upside down? I&#39;m gonna have to try that mod sometime. :smile:
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I grabbed the belt and spun the motor to make sure it was free. Flipped it when I did.

I&#39;ve driven the truck a bit over the last couple days. The darn squeal is gone replaced by a steady tap.

Check your waterpump, mine kinda did what you are describing except it broke the impeller off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ULuze2 &#064; Feb 20 2006, 05&#58;06 AM) [snapback]44904[/snapback]</div>

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Check your waterpump, mine kinda did what you are describing except it broke the impeller off.
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At some point in my checks I removed the main serpentine belt and the A/C belt and fired it up. The noise was still there.

I supose this is what was making the squeal. The squeal quit after awhile replaced by what sounded like a ball bearing bouncing around in the engine. I think when I pull the lifter it will be rough and was probably making the ball bearing sound? Lots of talk on other boards about this cam manufacturer and possibly a bad batch of cores. Just the one lobe. Guess I&#39;ll get a bigger cam now.

http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/cam.jpg

Oh, that ought to be fun. Looks like time to pull the heads and put new lifters in. Here&#39;s wishing you better luck next time. :thumb:

You might consider having the cam bearings inspected or replaced, especially around the messed up journal.

Man that sucks.

A picture of the lifter to the messed up cam lobe. Ugly. :eek:

http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/lifter1.jpg

OUCH&#33;&#33;&#33; who is the cam from???

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bud8fan &#064; Mar 18 2006, 08&#58;57 AM) [snapback]47288[/snapback]</div>

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OUCH&#33;&#33;&#33; who is the cam from???
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Cam Motion. They have agreed to refund my money, haven&#39;t seen it yet though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KySilverado &#064; Mar 18 2006, 08&#58;34 PM) [snapback]47344[/snapback]</div>

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Cam Motion. They have agreed to refund my money, haven&#39;t seen it yet though.
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Just Tell em where we voice our opinions and theyll send your dough&#33;