Atomic 4 engine knocking

[kloudie1]

Great pictures.. Yes, that is probably the cause of the bouncing/knocking you are hearing.. Shouldn’t be hard to put a new retainer set in at all.. but do pull the valve and check the seats.. make sure it is not scarred or burned.. if so, you can re-lap it to get it back in shape. Strange how #1 and #3 are a good bit messier looking than the others.. Ya may have a bad valve seal on the #3 intake.. ?? ( I don’t know if that engine has seals there.. but if it is not a seal, then it may be excessive valve guide clearance ) The fact that the knocking didn’t change when you pulled the plug wires usually means that the bearings and pistons are pretty much OK. Did you find the piece of retainer that is broken out? While ya in there, it may be prudent to pull and check the other retainers to make sure you don't have another getting ready to turn loose. Good luck with it.

 

[tommays]

Well

There some stuff down in the oil pan now BUT the oil pump screen should keep it OUT

As advised by the service manual you should stuff small rags in the 4 oil drain holes to keep other bits and pieces out of the oil pan

The oil pan is the motor mount so droping it requires a total tear down

 

[SamLust]

My engine expert happened to walk in as I was looking at the pictures of the engine's innards. He immediately saw evidence of DETONATION. Excessive carbon build-up from oil coming up the valves or from unleaded gasoline, possibly even rings. Carbon glows and causes two flame fronts, which meet and act like advancing the timing, causing a ping. The engine has been worked on before. Lots of different valves, pistons etc. Detonatoin will take out your rod bearings, wrist pins, and pistons. Aside from the spring retainer he says you need to identify the cause of the carbor build-up.