Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Hi All,

I just installed a 350 Vortec from a '99 pickup into my 66 C20 that has a 700r4. On first start up I heard this god awful noise and could see some deflection from the front pulley so ordered a new one and replaced it. The sound persists.

To me it sounds too fast to be a stuck lifter. I took the belt off and the sound remains as I thought it sounded fast enough to be the water pump impellor.

My problem is that I'm mostly deaf so I can't actually tell which part of the drivetrain it is coming from. Flexplate bolts fouling to front timing chain I have no idea. Would anybody be able to have a guess as to what it is?

https://youtu.be/4jvq_UoU3M4

Thanks in advance.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Did you have the motor apart at all or just install it and run it?
Make a listening device from a funnel stuck on the end of a heater hose to pinpoint the location.
Not a lifter sound. More like crank hitting something.
Pull the oil dipstick out and see if it changes.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Did you buy the engine from a reputable business? I take it you didn't hear it run before you bought it. A 23 year old engine is a "pig in a poke", condition unknown. You may find this noise to be a symptom of something major. Unless you enjoy treasure hunting, get in touch with who you bought it from and get either a refund or replacement.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

If its a stock timing cover, did you plug the crank sensor hole somehow?
If its a metal cover, did you remove the crankshaft reluctor ring that triggers the crank sensor?
It sounds bad. I'd take that engine apart.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

This is the first I'm hearing about this one. I'll have to investigate it more. I'm guessing it is that plug at the bottom of the harmonic balancer? What should I be doing with it? I figured leaving the sensor/plug sitting there would do nothing.

The engine was from an Importer (I'm in New Zealand) and is under warranty. I'm hoping to fix it as it has good compression and it will be a ball ache to take it out and ship it back to the South Island.

Edit: So I went to pull the dipstick out as it is a mile long and was quite difficult to get to slide back in when filling with oil originally. Hit the starter and just grinding. I have the inspection plate off already but will hone in on the starter to see if that is the problem. The flexplate is new and not wobbling but at rest the ring gear is very close to the teeth of the starter. In my experience usually it makes a high pitch grinding noise but I'm curious. Hopefully my old 283 mini high torque starter is a bolt on swap and I can test with that.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

OK looks like I found the problem. The starter motors weren't interchangable but I thought I'd take it out anyway. One of the bolts was 10mm out of position and just spinning when trying to tighten up. I was going to re-tap the thread so went to take the other bolt out and noticed it was a larger size bolt.

A couple of turns of the larger bolt later and part of the block fell off.

Time to start the warranty process I guess. Thanks for the responses, lads.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

And thank you for the memory jog!
We were in your area back in ‘91 when on holiday.
Stayed at Foxton Beach a couple days.
Too bad about the block.
Good you have a warranty.

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Who installed the starter originally?

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Dont be surprised when the supplier refuses warranty coverage, as the starter is not part of the purchased engine.

BTW, 283 mini starters have a different mounting bolt pattern and bolt size.

Thee sections of the block rear edge where the starter mounts commonly break off if the wrong bolts and or starter are used and the starter end brace back to the block is missing.

Best of luck

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Wow Foxton Beach! I just sold my farm in Levin which if you look at the map is the next town across.

Fascinating what they did with the area. A decade ago plenty of bikies used to use the place as a hang out until the council bought them all out. I bet you'd be shocked with how gentrified it is these days!

Re: Vortec 5.7 Mystery Sound
 

Not I, your honour. That it started a few times at all is a miracle. Oh well. At least I have an answer now.