Hey guys, I have a loud knocking coming from my engine. It sounds like its coming from the oil filter area. I took the oil pan off so far and the rods are fine. Any ideas? Here’s the video:
It doesn’t sound like rods. Could it be valvetrain or valves? LMA’s? It happened after I hit the rev limiter in 2nd and overboosted. I opened the hood to turn down the boost then I heard the knocking. It still drove fine. I have Neptune which has boost cut and I’ve hit it before without problems. I just turn down the boost.

 

It doesn't sound like a rod to me - sounds like valve train. Pull the valve cover and look for broken springs.

 

Ok, I did an initial inspection of the head and checked lash. It was all perfect. I'll look again at the springs. I have the old style LMA's but they seem to be still springy and not stuck. Thinking of getting the new style.

Took some pics of the rod and crank bearings and they are pristine, minus a few minor scratches. For an old b18a with prob 200k+, they look almost brand new lol. I don't know the actual mileage, I bought it used. Journals on crank are smooth. Should I check all main bearings? It's looking like it's not a bottom end problem.

 

Stock rods? Did you pull the rods pr just remove the caps? High chance you have a bent rod. I've torn open blocks that had good looking caps and bent rod/s.
EDIT** Now the video loaded, that sounds like top end noise..

 

stock rods. U know I just did a headgasket change and while I was there I checked a couple stem seals. I could've put an inner valve spring in crookedly. I'm trying to compress the inner valve springs and one of them seems stubborn. Anyone come across crooked valve springs? I'll have to do the rope trick in the cc to take the springs off which I'm dreading. Also ordered some new style LMA's.
It's weird. It drove fine for a while then started knocking.

 

New lma's installed. Noise still there. One backwards spring corrected. Took off all belts, Nothing. Cam lobes look fine, rocker pads look fine, no broken springs. I'm stumped.

Lash .006 intake .007 exhaust on a cold engine. Leakdown pass. Compression 205 210 200 160.

 

That 160 psi dont look right! you lost a whole lot of compression which is not good..

 

yea I know but there was some liquid on top of the pistons which could've inflated the numbers. Idk what to do man. Other than tearing it apart AGAIN. Maybe I need to lap the valves. I could do a water leak test. I did a leakdown and all cylinders were good. This tapping sound is driving me nuts! I just want to know what it is so I can fix it. Could it be a loose wrist pin?

 

Check the valve lash again

 

It's not the lash. I set it about a year ago and it didn't change. Then checked again twice recently and they're the same. It must be a worn rocker pad/cam lobe. There was nothing in the oil or any chunks. SO probably valvetrain related. I could put new cams, springs, rocker arms and I bet it would fix it but I can't just go swapping parts left and right.