Hello everyone and thank you for adding me. I've been pulling my hair out over this problem and hoping you all can help. I bought a craigslist 70s 225 that had been sitting without oil/water for 5+ years. It was a great deal so I couldnt pass it up. I got it turning over smoothly on the engine stand and dropped it in my 87 van with a new clutch. After turning it over a few times I found 2 bent rods. The valves were sticking. After plenty of oil and taps in the valve springs they stopped sticking. Replaced the rods and a lifter. Put new oil pump pickup tube on and oil pan gasket. Now as I turn it over with the starter I hear a click sound 1 time every revolution of the engine. Sounds like it's coming from the back of the block behind the starter. I dropped the pan and made sure theres no debris in the pan and the pick up tube isnt hitting. Dip stick is out so not that. I swapped the starter with another and same sound. Starter sounds fine on bench test. No fly wheel teeth missing or starter teeth. Clutch all looks normal . No signs of rubbing or scraping. No slop in the rod bearings. Oil pump gears look good. Makes sound with distributor out and belts/fan off.
I'm trying to avoid tearing the engine apart and dont think this is normal. I'm new to the slant 6 and dont remember the old ending making this metallic click sound. I can hear it over the starter. Any ideas anyone?? Thank you.

Loose converter bolt?

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It's a 4 speed. So no converter. I did check the bolts holding the pressure plate/clutch. Argh..

Sounds might be hard to trace in cars and it often sounds like it's coming from somewhere particular even if it isn't. I wouldn't tear the engine down because of that.

Have you checked the valve clearance even just roughly? I mean maybe some of the lifter(s) is sticking or something? Are you sure it isn't your clutch assembly? Are you able to mess with the throwout bearing to see if the sound changes? Maybe something in that clutch lever/throwoutbearing combination clicks when you spin the engine.

Is there any sound when you turn the engine by hand now that it's in your car?

I was thinking maybe a lifter or rocker arm. But I removed the valve cover and watched each rocket arm and lifter to make sure they are all moving and no clearance issues. No loose parts. I did notice the sound happens when cylinders 5 and 6 exhaust valves are pushed down... I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence or has anything to do with it... I took the spark plugs out and same sound. I don't hear it when turning over by hand. Maybe I'm not spinning it fast enough..?

This doesn't answer the question. Your van had a hydraulic lifter equipped slant six from the factory, meaning you would not have to lash the valves. The engine you put in has solid lifters (unless you converted it ALL over to hydraulic) and therefore requires valve lash to be set. If you put a hydraulic lifter from the model year your van is in that 70s engine, there's your click noise. It's the wrong lifter and it will cause a ton of damage if run that way.

What replacement lifter did you put in the engine?
If you have a hydraulic lifter in there instead of a solid lifter, spinning it slowly (by hand) would not produce a clicking sound.

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Thank you for the response. I did replace it with a solid lifter for the 70s 225. Exact same size and design. Cam lobes look good from below after rotating it several times. I was very careful in making sure it rotated smooth when it was on the stand.

Also I never took the head, Intake or exhaust man. off of the engine.

Awesome.

Have you lashed the valves?

Set intake to .010" clearance and exhaust to .020" clearance.

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Could you be hearing an exhaust "tick"?

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I haven't set lash yet. Everything says to lash running. I left rockers set where they were on the bent rods and slowly tightened the rail down. All adjusters look about the same. None are loose on the valves...
What is a exhaust tick? Haven't heard of that? I do seem to hear the tick sound everytime the 5 and 6 cylinder exhaust valves go down but sound isnt coming from the rocker area I believe. Put my ear by the rocker when it makes contact.
It is a shame I don't know much about the engine. When I did get it from being stored without oil I believe there was some light surface rust or something because it didn't want to turn over very easy at first and after putting oil in it and rotating it several times now it spins fairly easy. I do hear compression sounds as I turn it. I did take the spark plugs out for testing and it still sounds the same with them out. No fuel or spark going to the engine at this time either as well.

Sometimes a sound like that can be tracked down if a rod, metal preferred but wood might work, is held against the place you suspect the noise is coming from with the other end to your ear. Just a thought. I suppose a stethoscope would be even better.

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If you didn't drive it there, it's not a street car.

If none are loose on the valves, it's not going to run well while trying to warm it up.

I would set intakes to .013 and exhaust to .023 before firing it just to make sure you aren't hanging valves open.

~THOR~

_________________
1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Thank you for the suggestion. I've tried a small diameter pvc pipe. The starter is so loud I cannot tell. I also tried holding my hand in spots to see if I could feel the click. I'll try wood.. may be different.

Thanks Thor. I'll also try that. I'd feel pretty dumb if I was hitting valves. But In not sure what the last guy did. It had old fresh valve cover gasket, water pump, dist and coil. So I was crossing my fingers.