Noise in my new 29 a engin
 

ok guys I am new at this, but hear we go! I have done a complete rebuild of my 1929 ford model a engine! it runs great sounds real good until I get it warmed up & on the highway in third gear at what I am going to call a cruse, 35 mph or so. not giving it any gas & not letting off of it either! I get a noise I don't like & don't think is normal! at this point I can retard the spark lever & it almost goes away! can't think it is spark knock ! it sounds too much like something mechanical! tried removing the plug wires one at a time & it makes no difference in the sound of the engine, so don't think it is rod,main, or piston! it has been bored 100 over new pistons, rings & valves have been re done. Babbitt is good & crank has been replaced. oil pressure is good, I would like more, but that is what they say it should have, thought pistons might be touching the head, so I scoped the cylinders & find no evidence of this happening! this thing has me barking at the moon! has any body got any ideas? I need help

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Can you only hear the noise while in 3rd gear and going down the road after warm up or does it continue to make the noise while stopped after it is warmed up?
If the noise persists while stopped have you tried listening to the motor with a mechanics stethoscope to narrow the location down?

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

How new is the engine, is it stock, or modified, retarding the spark is a way to quiet a loose bearing, did it always have the noise, or is it new and getting louder
louder cold or after hot?

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Now you've done it! :) Welcome to the Barn!

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

X-2 wecome! It would help to know you location as someone could listen and guide you on the noise! Clubs in your area would be helpful also.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

It's really easy to forget to put in the plunger and spring in the timing gear cover.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

When you are running at 35mph where is the spark lever set?

Bob

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

it is the loudest in 3 rd gear on the cruse! it will do it after it is warm at idle but not as bad! it gets quitter even at idle when you retard the timing

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

I typically run it at full advance when at road speed, but when you retard the advance the noise quiets down, almost gone

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

I put a new plunger & spring in to keep pressure on the cam!

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

"Possibly" loose flywheel bolts?
Pop off the starter & with a screwdriver in the flywheel teeth, see if it rotates back & forth an 1/8" or so.
Bill W.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

maybe 100 miles! it is stock other than being bored 100 over, plastic gaged all the bearings & they run from 1.5 too 2 ish, Babbitt is in real good condition. as I Sayed earlier, removing the plug wires one at a time makes no change in the sound of the engine. if it was a rod or piston I think it would show up on removing plug wires one at a time!

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Get on a slight incline so the engine has to work in 3rd gear.

Retard spark lever until you feel a loss in power.

Advance it slightly, this is where you should be running at on the flat.

All you do with over advance is pound the babbit out.

The full window of advance is 40 degrees, dunno why Henry put that much in fer....

The engine sure don't like all of it.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Bill I thought of that but I tightened them my self & put the safety wire in my self. I will look at this again because I am planning to remove the transmission & replace all the bearings & stop it from dripping oil this winter. this thing is about to get the best of me!

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Did you check rods for twist, Bend, and Off Set?

How much does the wrist pins have, for clearance.

Herm.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Did you check the end play on your crankshaft? Did you check the backlash on your cam gear? Check the backlash on your rotor when the distributor is in the hole? What about the intermediate shaft between the oil pump drive and the distributor? Distributor shaft and sleeve? Check for wear in those areas. Take pictures.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Pooch I will try that! what is the general thought on the automatic timing device that just does away with the spark control lever! timing is adjusted in accordance with engine rpm

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

They seem to have good results with a stock low compression head, have heard it does not work that well with a high compression head. You shouldn't ever need to go full advance on your spark lever.

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

Kohnke did not check for twisted or bent rod, generally they all looked the same, laid out flat, but that is about as far as I went there. as for wrist pin clearance, the machine shop took care of all that I presume when they put in the new wrist pin bushings, they are supposed to be good & I trust them!

Re: Noise in my ney 29 a engin
 

denniskliesen! they are a bit pricy but I was wondering if it would be worth the investment? I am running pretty much stock