Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Howdy fellas, I've been a long-time lurker on here and have always been able to solve problems thanks to a search or my service manual, but this noise started recently and I'm getting antsy.

I just finished rebuilding the 292 that came in my 1969 C10 (for a little moar powa). I successfully installed it in my truck, broke in the cam, and drove it around the block. When I fixed the massive exhaust leak and quieted it down, I noticed a ticking noise. At first I was worried that it was valvetrain related, but a listen with a broomstick pointed to the bellhousing area (noise was very pronounced when broomstick was on the front dust cover). The ticking sound follows the speed of the engine,and occurs in all gears whether or not the clutch is depressed. Below is a link to a video of the noise in question.

https://youtu.be/bUwlNMFyYY0

Sure enough, after I removed the trans, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing and clutch fork (front dust cover, starter, flywheel, bellhousing still on) the sound completely disappeared. The below vid is far away from the bellhousing area, but the noise is nowhere to be found nonetheless.

https://youtu.be/1pAsM7I6EVU

Has anyone encountered this ticking sound before?? It's a 3 speed saginaw with a new pilot bushing, clutch disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing all from a rockauto kit. Bad or backwards throwout bearing??

I didn't use blue loctite when installing the flywheel or pressure plate. The fw bolts aren't loose (figured 110ft lbs didn't need loctite), the pressure plate bolts didn't feel loose either.

Tomorrow I will inspect all of the parts and bolt heads between the engine and the trans for unusual wear/places they could have been making contact, but for now I'm at a bit of a loss :confused:

Any input would be appreciated, I just wanna drive this thing!! :chevy:

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Anyone?

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Might be a longshot.? Are the crankshaft bolts too long through the flywheel. Hitting on the lip of the oil pan?

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Any rub marks on the dust shield where it might have been slightly bent during the rebuild process?

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

My guess - pressure plate bolt too long?

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

That could be a mechanical hitting.
Pull it apart and look carefully for marks on the flywheel.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Just a suggestion... Take the plugs out and turn the motor over by hand slowly until you find where it is hitting. Should be pretty evident with the motor off.

If you have help, have someone depress the clutch while turning it over.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

I had the same type of noise from my 1967 GMC 3/4 ton after installation of a crate engine. After several transmission removal/installation sessions (where I found the noise disappeared) I discovered it was the flat sheet metal shield which was very slightly contacting the end of the crankshaft (the shield where you are pushing your broomstick against. Remove the starter, then this shield, and look for very small witness marks where the shield is being contacted by the end of the crankshaft..... Solution was to grind the sheet metal plate very slightly to allow more clearance.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

I have a length of garden hose (or you could probably use heater hose) about 3 or 4 feet long. I stick one end up to my ear and wave the other end near the engine until the ticking gets louder. Works more often than not to isolate where the sound is coming from.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Could be the tin dust cover under the clutch/pressure plate --- something hitting it in rotation. BT-DT.
Pull it off and look for any fresh bright metal wear marks on the tin cover. If you don't get the noise with the dust cover off, that's it.
Re-install with some washers as spacers to gain clearance from interference.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Thanks fellas! Since the noise is gone with the trans out and that tin cover on the front of the bellhousing off, I’m going to straighten out the tin cover (where it goes around the crank is a little messed up), install it on the bellhousing and see if the noise is still gone. Whether or not it’s gone I’ll try to stab the transmission in today.

One thing I neglected to do was adjust the clutch fork linkage rod, since every clutch part was new I probably should have.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

The trans is in, everything is connected, the truck starts and idles well and the noise is gone. But now something is up with my ignition system and turning the key off and taking it out doesn’t turn off the truck! It’s just one thing after another!

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Did you remove and replace the starter? If so, check to see if the yellow wire from the "R" terminal is touching the main battery post on the starter.

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Well ever since you changed my taillight bulb, the right front wheel makes a clunk...

Re: Bellhousing area tick that follows RPM
 

Truck is running and driving, my ignition issue was solved by an old thread on here :)

I switched to pertronix electronic ignition a couple years ago and the truck worked perfectly with the coil connected to the starter like it was from the factory, but now the starter is making the coil hot at all times. Good thing the wire from starter to coil isn’t necessary with electronic ignition, disconnected and wrapped it up and the truck is good to go!