Some of you may have been aware there is a small engine noise that has been there for almost 3000 miles now. Disagreements abound over what it is, but all say ignore it until it gets bad. So Tuesday I was driving over a hilly section of Western Maryland and I started hearing a rapping noise at 2000 rpm going up hill in 4th gear. Oh Boy! I started making plans for how I was going to pull the engine, and maybe get a decent junk yard engine temporarily, or look for a used on on E-bay. Maybe I won't go to the Mason Dixon race on Saturday.

While leaning forward to get a handle on where it was coming from, I grabbed the floor shift and ....the noise went away. Holy Cow!! So now I am thinking it is in the transmission. Sure enough, if I pushed the shift lever to the right, the noise stopped.

When I got home I pulled the console apart, and took the glove box liner out. I pulled the shifter, and inspected things, and it all seemed tight and in good shape. So I wrapped those loose items behind the dash with bubble wrap and in general tightened everything up well as I re-installed everything. The items that could have made noise were the radio antennae plug and the flasher. I kind of packed more bubble wrap back in there as I put things back together.

I took it for a drive, and what-do-you-know, the noise is gone. So I don't have to pull the engine, or find another one. Only thing I can figure is either the flasher or the radioi antennae were knocking against the metal in time to the vibration of the engine under load at 2000 rpm. And apparently putting pressure on the shift lever dampened the vibration just enough that it no longer set up the harmonic of whatever was making noise behind the dash.

Whew! I'll be there on Saturday.

Sam

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Crazy! Congrats...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Yes Lou. I remember you had a similar scare or two in the past. I have concluded getting rid of rattles is important for reasons other than aesthetics.

Sam

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Definitely. I am overdue for a major rattle-reduction on the 68 Dart...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I am not certain my analysis was correct now. On the way to and from the race, going over mountains, I became aware of a noise again at the same rpm going over hills in 4th. Again it went away when I touched the shift lever.it was much quieter, and subtler. So I am now thinking there is a worn bearing on one of the tranny shafts which maybe caused the other potential noise makers to rattle in the dash. I have decided not to worry about it, or make contingency plans for such an unknown cause. I will just drive. I think whatever it is will not fail suddenly and leave me stranded somewhere, but get gradually worse. I bought this tranny 10 years ago for $200 and have put many miles on it.

Sam

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