[SSteady98]

So after the teardown and rebuild of my 95 5.0, my dad and I found out that the knock wasn't in the crank. The crank, however, did have a crack in it. we replaced the crank and put everything back together, and realized the knock was still there. Following evidence, we noticed that the u-joint had been thrown off due to a big dent in the muffler at the back. We think the previous owners had then wrapped the engine up so hard it not only messed up the crank, but also the cam and possibly something else. I am going to try some other things in the future, but that is also not the only problem.

The car has had this pretty bad stutter through 1-3k rpms where it feels like it is dragging ass. I smell fuel most of the time and makes me think that either the timing is off pretty bad or the fuel pump/regulator is out. Any ideas on either of the problems??

note: it also has a pretty wicked backfire every now and then when I downshift. sometimes a light pop, sometimes one that literally makes a car alarm go off. any help is appreciated.
another note: the car has a pretty bad issue with just dying at a red light or while turning as well.

[Bubba95SN]

Try checking this for some test advice. SBFTech Knock still in motor? Let a machine shop check all parts.

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by Bubba95SN Try checking this for some test advice. SBFTech Knock still in motor? Let a machine shop check all parts.

Mucho gras man. I looked it up. The thing is, we checked it all when we had it on the motor stand. we made sure everything was turning right and nothing was bent. Like i said though, the crank was cracked in the middle. That may have solved some stuff, but we still have the issue somewhere else now. I will go back home when I get paid and take the top end off with my dad since I still have the head gaskets that we didn't use.

Another thing- I turned the timing(i dont know advance or retard) but I turned it more towards the driver side and the bogging stopped. Not as bad as gas smell, if any. I still hear an exaust or maybe vacuum leak but that's it. Also, I forgot to mention that the bell housing is also cracked. these people did some DAMAGE to this car.. I think it might just be better to get another stock 5.0 with little mileage, put some stuff in her, and make a better car with it.

-----Another thing since that paragraph of trouble is out of the way. I bought a short shifter for the car and when I went to put it in, the bolt pattern has 6, not 4 bolts. there are 2 bolts with a smaller bolt pattern than the other 4, and made no sense as the shifter is supposed to fit 89-03 trannies. could the guy possibly have dropped another transmission totally different from the original??

[fogged306]

When does the knocking happen? All the time even at idle or at certain RPM? Does it happen with the trans in neutral or only while in gear? Knocking in the bottom end is a rod bearing about 99% of the time. Did you check rod bearing clearance? Did you cut open the oil filter before the rebuild?

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by fogged306 When does the knocking happen? All the time even at idle or at certain RPM? Does it happen with the trans in neutral or only while in gear? Knocking in the bottom end is a rod bearing about 99% of the time. Did you check rod bearing clearance? Did you cut open the oil filter before the rebuild?

It is all the time, even at idle. while in gear and neutral. We tore the bottom end apart. the crank was cracked, and we replaced it with another one with correct bearings. oil filter clean.

[fogged306]

Have you ever heard what rod knock sounds like on other cars? It's a pretty distinctive sound. Tough to diagnose on the internet without hearing it, but that's what it seems to be your issue. So you replaced your rod bearings along with new main bearings? What was your measurements on bearing clearance? Did you have the rods checked first? You can put new bearings on all you want, but if the big end of the rod is mis-shaped from knocking around it won't do you any good.

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by fogged306 Have you ever heard what rod knock sounds like on other cars? It's a pretty distinctive sound. Tough to diagnose on the internet without hearing it, but that's what it seems to be your issue. So you replaced your rod bearings along with new main bearings? What was your measurements on bearing clearance? Did you have the rods checked first? You can put new bearings on all you want, but if the big end of the rod is mis-shaped from knocking around it won't do you any good.

Rod knocks are more tingy than this noise is. this noise is a deeper knock. it's actually starting to become more distinct if I run it hard. I do this, but not for long. I will be uploading a couple pictures soon of what the crank looked like.

[fogged306]

The crank isn't what I'm concerned with, it's the rods, specifically the big end like I mentioned before. You still haven't posted what your measurements were for rod bearing clearance or if you had them checked before you put them back in.

Post up a video with the best sound you can get of the knock and maybe we can point you in the right direction.

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by fogged306 The crank isn't what I'm concerned with, it's the rods, specifically the big end like I mentioned before. You still haven't posted what your measurements were for rod bearing clearance or if you had them checked before you put them back in. Post up a video with the best sound you can get of the knock and maybe we can point you in the right direction.

Uploading right now. Also have a few extra pictures to throw in, as well as a question about the transmission and why my short throw shifter won't fit on this 6-bolt layout.

The bearing clearances were .030. I got the crank and bearings from Mabbco, a local seller here in texas. ... Well not local, but they had an e-bay store and are 200 miles away from here.

[SSteady98]

-The noise on the knock is faint, and starts 10-20 seconds in. You might have to listen closely, but its a distinct knock when you do hear it.

6bolt pattern transmission. no idea what type it is, havent checked number.


Cracked Crank

and lastly, what is this on the crank??

[fogged306]

Is that a ford racing crankshaft? I have a couple 302 cranks sitting around and the stock 302 one doesn't have that and the ford racing one does. It's just a counterweight.

How many RPM was the car running in the video? If it was about 1200-1500 RPM, it sounds like a rod knock to me. But I could only hear something that sounded like a knock about 5 seconds before the video ended. One single rod knock will go with the "lope" of the engine, if that was idling at the normal RPM like below 800, then it's something else. But it definitely makes that distinctive rod knock sound to me, and I've heard that sound plenty of times.

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by fogged306 Is that a ford racing crankshaft? I have a couple 302 cranks sitting around and the stock 302 one doesn't have that and the ford racing one does. It's just a counterweight. How many RPM was the car running in the video? If it was about 1200-1500 RPM, it sounds like a rod knock to me. But I could only hear something that sounded like a knock about 5 seconds before the video ended. One single rod knock will go with the "lope" of the engine, if that was idling at the normal RPM like below 800, then it's something else. But it definitely makes that distinctive rod knock sound to me, and I've heard that sound plenty of times.

It is idling below 800 here. Thats the thing though; it also makes the noise through all the gears. Rod knock I'm guessing? jeez.
-I dont know about the ford racing crank though. If it is, it's done for since it's cracked. Previous owners obviously ran this thing into the dirt..

by the way- mind informing me on what transmission that is?? T.T

[fogged306]

If it was idling normal RPM there then the knock I heard would have been too fast for rod knock. But it was definitely hard to make out over that exhaust leak. What does your balancer look like? I had a balancer fail (rubber deteriorated) on another car and it knocked, but it made a hell of a racket and you couldn't mistake where it was coming from. It didn't really sound like what you had in the video though, but it's worth a shot.

No clue on the trans, I can't remember what my T-5 looks like from the top.

[sspmustang]

I honestly dont hear anything out of the ordinary there. What about the Idler pulley? When they go bad on a SN car they sound like a knock.

[SSteady98]

Originally Posted by sspmustang I honestly dont hear anything out of the ordinary there. What about the Idler pulley? When they go bad on a SN car they sound like a knock.

Idler pulley had been replaced 2 weeks ago. I put some "Belt conditioner" on the belt because it was squeaking, and it brought out the noise in the idler pulley. This is the pulley in the middle at the top of the motor correct? or the one on the side(possibly the tensioner pulley)

[SSteady98]

Also bad for me for double-posting, but when you step on the gas a little after a shift and press on it, it makes a pretty bad squeak with the knock. if that makes any sense...