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Not the same ol' knock

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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 06:39 PM
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Default Not the same ol' knock

Lots and lots of posts of lifter noise and exhaust leaks on 200K mile trucks but:

The cliff notes are that I'm 98.5547% sure this is rod knock. I'm an experienced tech, but my first LS.
With the doghouse off, I can feel it very much in the block/bell housing and seems a little louder on the odd side.

Its a GM Performance connect-and-cruise kit 6.2L LS3/4L65E, bought about 2018 while the Van was being built and currently has 800 MILES on it. 800. I was driving normally, it started to knock intermittently going like 25mph, and by the time I could get a block to a Carls Jr parking lot it sounded like this.
I can't imagine what you could screw up on install to hurt an LS that bad. It has been babied like you'd baby a nineteen thousand dollar, completely GM stock, brand new powertrain. You could say I'm a little more than angry

GM Performance says suck it, its over 12 months old, so we aren't doing anything. So, assuming rod knock, what the heck could have caused it? and what the heck do I need to fix it? Rod bearings? Rod and crank bearings, Rod bearings and rods?
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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 06:49 PM
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The Deets:
It had been sitting for about an hour at a buddies house, on a warm day, and this started 2 blocks after leaving. So, not over heated.
It still has 40psi oil pressure at cold idle, sender is at the lower port by the filter.
Compression is 125psi on #1 and #7 and the rest at 150psi.
Removing the coil plugs at idle one at a time = no change.
Oil was drained through a cloth and put back in, not a single piece of glitter but a tiny/tiny bit of grey sludgy stuff in the pan? I haven't pulled the oil filter and I did initially shut it off really quickly.
Plugs look OK
Valve covers off and all the rockers move while cranking. I didn't spin the pushrods.
So all I can do is pull this damn thing out and yank off the pan?

I have a 6.0l iron block engine for another project. Easy to swap physically but what about the GM ECM I'm using now?

And a pic, because pics rule.


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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 06:50 PM
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Please help. The ladies are waiting.
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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 07:41 PM
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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 08:07 PM
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that sounds bad man. but if it makes you feel any better that Van is the raddest thing I've seen all day.
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Old Jun 27, 2022 | 11:11 PM
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Ok…oil filter will tell you condition of bearings. Cut it open with the correct tool, or tin snips. The fact that you you still have oil pressure says volumes. I wouldn’t touch a thing until I went through oil filter. If it’s clean, pull the bellhousing bottom cover and check your torque converter bolts, and flywheel condition. If it’s got metal in it, well you know what’s next. The oil pressure gauge gives me hope. Keep us posted please.
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 12:35 AM
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Damn, forgot to mention that. Pulled off the little plastic cover and rotated the engine. All three of the TC bolts are super tight and I couldn't see any cracks in the flex plate through that admittedly tiny inspection hole.

But thank you guys for the replies so far. I know what I'm in for, I would just like to be as prepared as possible before I dive in. I'm pretty scared of killing the interior:




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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 12:51 AM
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Pull the oil filter and cut it open to look for glitter.
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 08:59 AM
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I plan too, but what's it mater if I find glitter there or not? I'll still be pulling the pan
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 09:04 AM
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DUDE!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT VAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you taken the AC belt off and serpentine belt off to verify its not something up there?
Thats a really high pitched sounding to be rod knock but anything is possibly I guess.
Defiantly pull filter
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 09:08 AM
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Sure, I'll pull the belts off and try that. Even though I'm really sure it's a rod I have been bitten before by assumptions!
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 09:09 AM
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Also I would try removing torque converter bolts and sliding converter back from flex plate as far as it will go and crank it to see if its something in the torque converter or transmission.

it just doesnt have the "Normal" rod knock sounds that im used to.

Ever had a hard time cranking it? Ive had one hydro lock with fuel and tweak a couple rods just enough to bend them ever so slightly and it sounded similar to that.
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Old Jun 28, 2022 | 09:32 PM
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Always cranked fine AFAIK? 800 miles...

Good idea! I might try taking the TC bolts off? Heck, I have to pull them anyway.
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 06:19 PM
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Found it. Finally stuck my endoscope down the cylinders and #7 looked a little, well... I'll let you decide.




So I turned the camera around and stuck it back in,



Good times.
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 06:23 PM
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I don't know if it's still in there and just smashed into the piston/head causing the knock.
I don't know if it made it's way out the exhaust.
I don't know if it was big enough to bend the rod, kill the bearing and thats what i'm hearing.

I don't know what "it" is. Foreign object from before or because of the custom cold air intake ('74 Van)? Chipped valve seat?

At least I know what I'm in for. Ugh. I'm going on vacation.
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 08:06 PM
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possible bearing from the stock rockers caused it ?
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by madmike9396
possible bearing from the stock rockers caused it ?
Doubtful. Something got in the cylinder, and a rocker bearing can’t do that.
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Cooter!
I don't know if it's still in there and just smashed into the piston/head causing the knock.
I don't know if it made it's way out the exhaust.
I don't know if it was big enough to bend the rod, kill the bearing and thats what i'm hearing.

I don't know what "it" is. Foreign object from before or because of the custom cold air intake ('74 Van)? Chipped valve seat?

At least I know what I'm in for. Ugh. I'm going on vacation.
Well…the good news is you know what’s going on and how to plan for it now. 99% of the time, you won’t know what happened, until it’s on a stand and the heads are off. I can’t imagine what got in the cylinder unless maybe a ringland broke, and a chip off the top of the piston broke off and did this. Your thought about the rod being bent might be on point here, and that’s what the knock is. I just got a 5.3 in my shop that was knocking. Tore it down and it has a bent rod. Bearing looks great, it’s just the skirt kissing the counterweight.
All other cylinders look ok in your engine?
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 10:24 PM
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Played the video my wife was setting next to me and said why are you looking up velociraptor’s sounds..😂🤣 so there you have it.
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Old Jul 9, 2022 | 10:29 PM
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Well I knew it didn’t sound like a rod bearing lol… that still sucks though, maybe a throttle body blade bolt.
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