My Barracuda has been sitting for a week or so between rain and body work. I have done nothing mechanical. The only thing even remotely mechanical was adjusting the accelerator pedal position. While I was doing that I shorted a wire from the ignition switch to the starter relay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDnjiYEQRfw

I have posted a video with what I am hearing and what I am seeing on the vacuum gauge. I have obviously replaced the wire and the engine turns over easy. The noise is so loud I can not tell where exactly it is coming from. I pulled the valve cover and checked lash it is good. All rocker arms are rocking. There is heat on all of the exhaust runners. I hear the noise at idle but once I rev past idle it smooths out. What I am wondering is could it be my starter relay is not turning the start off and what I am hearing is the starter continuing to run?

I know I did not blow the fusible link because when I first tried to start I got nothing went back and checked and the link had fallen off and I didn't notice at first.

One last thing I did notice my exhaust pipe is VERY close to the idler arm knuckle. Could it be the exhaust bouncing on the knuckle?

Just checked the starter it is not getting 12 volts on the small bolt when in run. Also used my jack to lift the exhaust off the knuckle I can now slide my fingers under it. While I was there I checked the flex plate bolts thinks maybe they were hitting. I looked through the space between the block and the start and then used a flat head to check the bolt to flexplate and I did not find one that was loose.

I can't think it is coming directly from the engine not only is it a fresh rebuild that has not exhibited any issues but I have not run it for a week. I am stumped and afraid to take it for a test drive in case it is metal on metal in the engine.

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

Based on vac readings, I suspect a valve isn't closing like it should be.

_________________
70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

Would that explain the crazy loud noise?

I did run the starter with out starting the engine and I still heard the noise.

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

Yep.

_________________
1963 AP5 Valiant 225 PB 904 Stock except extractors & 2 1/4 inch exhaust.


1962 S series valiant 225 PB auto. factory every thing. Full restoration job.
Currently on hold till AP5 is on the road.

If that's the case should I still see voltage on the small lug?something else I can saw online last night is the starter not disengaging. How can I check that?

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

Today I remembered I had the old relay and decided to put it back on. There was nothing wrong with it other then being old. It did not help the situation. I then put my hand on the start hoping to feel it hot and it was cool to the touch but I could feel a rattle through the case. I took my screwdriver and placed it on the case to see if I could still feel it and I could I then touched along the block to see if I could feel anything. I did not feel anything but a consistent hum/buzz.

This leads me back to the starter. If the starter were engaged would it be warm as it spun or could it stay cool since the solenoid is not electrified?

The problem is I have no idea where this starter came from. It is not the original it is a later one with the solenoid tucked away by the bottom of the starter on the block side.

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

I let auto zone test the starter and a new starter. On mine I could here a low grinding noise but the gear did retract correctly. Could the gear stick while in the car and would the grinding possibly get worse under load?

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

Well thankfully I tracked it down to the flex plate bolts. They were ALL loose some worse then others. Since I had the starter out I went ahead and tightened down from there after a drop of thread locker. Then marked each bolt with a spot of paint so I can inspect movement later.

Started the car and listened and it was all gone. The starter is still grinding a little but I am going to troll the junkyard tomorrow and see if I can find a spare.

Thank you guys for allowing me to bounce these ideas and your responses. It is always helpfully to hear others ideas.

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro

Kewl, I just got home and sat down to see how you went.
was going to suggest pulling starter and bench testing.
flex bolts eh.
So thats what they sound like,eessh nasty.
Thanks for the update.

Brendan.

_________________
1963 AP5 Valiant 225 PB 904 Stock except extractors & 2 1/4 inch exhaust.


1962 S series valiant 225 PB auto. factory every thing. Full restoration job.
Currently on hold till AP5 is on the road.

Sounded so bad it made my heart drop. I was very worried it was Bottom end noise.

_________________
2006 Jeep Commander
2013 Chrysler 200

1964 Valiant 4 Door
1965 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Chevy Camaro