Rattle is driving me CRAZY, HELP! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71400lb · 03-01-2005, 10:46 AM

Okay all...I have a 71 3/4 ton long bed 2wd Cheyenne.
It has A/C, disc brakes front/drum rear.

Now the problem is that there's a rattle coming from what seems to be behind the glove box, but in the lower dash. It's hard for me to describe, but it's a "heavy" rattle, not tinny or squeeky, it's more of a dull and heavy rattle.
Picture a Q-ball in a plastic bucket, and every time you hit a bump, the Q-ball bounces a bit, that's the best way I can describe the noise.

I have taken out the entire glove box, cardboard insert and all, and I cannot see anything loose, or even any exposed bolts for tha matter! I looked under the truck for a loose shock absorber, but it was tight. I drove the truck with the glove box completely out, and it still had the rattle.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rick
1971 C/20
400/400

john_doe · 03-01-2005, 11:02 AM

have you checked your heater blower motor? maybe it's loose.

71400lb · 03-01-2005, 11:04 AM

Hmmm, no actually I have not. Stupid question, but how do I get to it? Take out the glove box again, or is it under the dash, or is it accessible under the hood?

Thanks,

Rick

**tnblazerk5** · 03-01-2005, 11:14 AM

look and see it the heater core is loose in the heater box !!!! just grab the core by the hose and see if it moves !!!!! i had the same problem and it was the heater core loose the little brakets that healed it in place broke and let it move just a little

john_doe · 03-01-2005, 11:17 AM

it's under the hood. in the corner right behind the glove box. a few bolts and it will come out to inspect. if i remember right you'll have to remove the hood hinge to remove it completely.

lngbed71 · 03-01-2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnblazerk5

look and see it the heater core is loose in the heater box !!!! just grab the core by the hose and see if it moves !!!!! i had the same problem and it was the heater core loose the little brakets that healed it in place broke and let it move just a little

**CPNE** · 03-01-2005, 11:34 AM

Maybe a disgruntled GM employee left something in the cowl vent area during assembly? 30 years later he/she is still taking out frustration on an unwitting owner. Unlikely but a tantilizing theory anyway.

You might be able to remove the cowl and fish something down in there to explore a little. What you need is a "proctology cam".

lpaine · 03-01-2005, 12:10 PM

Is it possibly an inner fender bolt worked it's way loose on the passengers side? I had that happen to me once on the '72 Jimmy I used to own, it sounds similar to the sound I was hearing, took a while to figure that noise out.As I remember it was a bolt at or close to the bottom rear of the fender, just about drove me nuts. Good Luck.Lew

Brewski* · 03-01-2005, 01:01 PM

Could it be a bad cab mount under the truck? I had the same sound and a bushing was completely gone~!

Brainchild · 03-01-2005, 01:19 PM

Maybe something fell into the heat/AC ducts.

cojnit · 03-01-2005, 03:21 PM

OHHHHHH I know that frustration as it mocks me every day I drive the sub. I hve had the wife with her head inside the glove, and touching everything, still cant find it. She seems to think it is a shock or chassis part, so the body bushing sounds like a great possibility!

Longhorn Man · 03-01-2005, 11:01 PM

Anyone thought about ball jhoints or the a arms bushings?

dyingdeadman · 03-02-2005, 03:45 AM

i agree with longhorn man, it sounds like a bad ball joint or control arm bushing to me.
my 87 made that noise, found out the lower ball joints were bad replaced them and the noise was gone. my 72 is also making that noise. just havent had time or money to fix it yet.

mrein3 · 03-02-2005, 08:32 AM

How about this...
I know a guy that used to own a Chrysler product. Remember your first Dodge is nobody's fault, your 2nd Dodge is your own damn fault. But I digress.

Anyways this guy bought the car new and always had a rattle. He had two or three dealerships look for it but nobody every found it.

He finally pulled the heater core. A piece of solder, too big to pass through, was knocking into the inner workings of the heater core. He dumped it out, reassembled it, rattle gone.

71400lb · 03-02-2005, 10:55 AM

Thanks all for your responses. Well, I guess I've got a few things to check out eh! I'll have the ball joints checked and the cab mounts and fender bolts to eliminate them from suspects.
The sound is of something heavy rattling, so I'm pretty sure it's not something that fell into the ducts or a wrench that a GM mechanic left in there 34 years ago(but you never know!).
I'm kind of hoping that the original owner had stuffed a tin of cash up into the dash to hide it from his wife, then died without ever telling anybody about it, but I don't think that's it either!

Thanks Again All,
Rick
71400LB

03-01-2005, 10:46 AM	#1
71400lb 71400lb Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 74	Rattle is driving me CRAZY, HELP! Okay all...I have a 71 3/4 ton long bed 2wd Cheyenne. It has A/C, disc brakes front/drum rear. Now the problem is that there's a rattle coming from what seems to be behind the glove box, but in the lower dash. It's hard for me to describe, but it's a "heavy" rattle, not tinny or squeeky, it's more of a dull and heavy rattle. Picture a Q-ball in a plastic bucket, and every time you hit a bump, the Q-ball bounces a bit, that's the best way I can describe the noise. I have taken out the entire glove box, cardboard insert and all, and I cannot see anything loose, or even any exposed bolts for tha matter! I looked under the truck for a loose shock absorber, but it was tight. I drove the truck with the glove box completely out, and it still had the rattle. Any ideas? Thanks, Rick 1971 C/20 400/400

03-01-2005, 11:34 AM	#7
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Maybe a disgruntled GM employee left something in the cowl vent area during assembly? 30 years later he/she is still taking out frustration on an unwitting owner. Unlikely but a tantilizing theory anyway. You might be able to remove the cowl and fish something down in there to explore a little. What you need is a "proctology cam". __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

03-01-2005, 12:10 PM	#8
lpaine Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Parksville, B.C. Canada Posts: 637	Is it possibly an inner fender bolt worked it's way loose on the passengers side? I had that happen to me once on the '72 Jimmy I used to own, it sounds similar to the sound I was hearing, took a while to figure that noise out.As I remember it was a bolt at or close to the bottom rear of the fender, just about drove me nuts. Good Luck.Lew __________________ 1969 G.M.C 3/4 Ton 920 (Canadian Version) 307 3 speed, currently apart 1998 Chevy 1/2 ton ex cab V-6 5 speed 1967 Chevy SWB - project truck; not started just yet

03-01-2005, 01:19 PM	#10
Brainchild Still drivin' a Rat Rod Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monett Missouri Posts: 4,925	Maybe something fell into the heat/AC ducts. __________________ Rusty Member #13872 Instead of saying.....you are a discomfort in the back of my front.....one should be able to say...... you are a pain in the a$# 71 GMC LWB 49 Chevy 85 Chevy G20 Check out my website

03-01-2005, 03:21 PM	#11
cojnit Nothing clever Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kailua HI Posts: 828	OHHHHHH I know that frustration as it mocks me every day I drive the sub. I hve had the wife with her head inside the glove, and touching everything, still cant find it. She seems to think it is a shock or chassis part, so the body bushing sounds like a great possibility! __________________ Got "the Midas Touch!"

03-01-2005, 11:02 AM	#2
john_doe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 37	have you checked your heater blower motor? maybe it's loose.

03-01-2005, 11:04 AM	#3
71400lb 71400lb Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 74	Hmmm, no actually I have not. Stupid question, but how do I get to it? Take out the glove box again, or is it under the dash, or is it accessible under the hood? Thanks, Rick

03-01-2005, 11:14 AM	#4
tnblazerk5 User #12137 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: kingsport,upper east tenn Posts: 11,598	look and see it the heater core is loose in the heater box !!!! just grab the core by the hose and see if it moves !!!!! i had the same problem and it was the heater core loose the little brakets that healed it in place broke and let it move just a little

03-01-2005, 11:17 AM	#5
john_doe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 37	it's under the hood. in the corner right behind the glove box. a few bolts and it will come out to inspect. if i remember right you'll have to remove the hood hinge to remove it completely.

03-01-2005, 01:01 PM	#9
Brewski* Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rocky Mount, MO Posts: 1,293	Could it be a bad cab mount under the truck? I had the same sound and a bushing was completely gone~!

03-01-2005, 11:01 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Anyone thought about ball jhoints or the a arms bushings?

03-02-2005, 03:45 AM	#13
dyingdeadman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: san marcos,tx Posts: 266	i agree with longhorn man, it sounds like a bad ball joint or control arm bushing to me. my 87 made that noise, found out the lower ball joints were bad replaced them and the noise was gone. my 72 is also making that noise. just havent had time or money to fix it yet. __________________ 72 GMC sierra 3/4 ton 402 bb 68 GMC 3/4 ton 2010 camaro rs: daily driver

03-02-2005, 08:32 AM	#14
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,253	How about this... I know a guy that used to own a Chrysler product. Remember your first Dodge is nobody's fault, your 2nd Dodge is your own damn fault. But I digress. Anyways this guy bought the car new and always had a rattle. He had two or three dealerships look for it but nobody every found it. He finally pulled the heater core. A piece of solder, too big to pass through, was knocking into the inner workings of the heater core. He dumped it out, reassembled it, rattle gone. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

03-02-2005, 10:55 AM	#15
71400lb 71400lb Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 74	Thanks all for your responses. Well, I guess I've got a few things to check out eh! I'll have the ball joints checked and the cab mounts and fender bolts to eliminate them from suspects. The sound is of something heavy rattling, so I'm pretty sure it's not something that fell into the ducts or a wrench that a GM mechanic left in there 34 years ago(but you never know!). I'm kind of hoping that the original owner had stuffed a tin of cash up into the dash to hide it from his wife, then died without ever telling anybody about it, but I don't think that's it either! Thanks Again All, Rick 71400LB



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