Hi

I am UK based and have a 312 Y Block in a 54 mercury

When you first start it up on tick over the engine has a loudish knocking noise

When revving and running the engine it sounds sweet and has no problems

Is this tick over sound a normal sound or something sinister - I know its hard to say without hearing but would appreciate any feedback (I have no other y blocks in my area to compare it to)

Thanks in advance

Jaz

Jaz

   If you have a Ford O Matic, as in an autobox then check for a cracked flexplate. The early FOM had rivited ears on the flexplate that break. Pete

Yes, very likely the flex plate. If you take off the trans inspection cover by bottow of tq converter, you should be able to get a view to see if your flex plate has rivited mounting ears where tq converter bolts up...there is a later 1 piece replacement ford issued. I know t-bird products in PA has them for about $75 or so; just don't know shipping to you.

That's what id look for first. Another user here just went through this...you can search for his posts...screen name is sandiegoron, iirc..

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Hi Jaz

Good to see another Brit on the site. Did you make it to the RoG today (Sunday)? Great show and turnout.

Your noise sounds like a flexplate problem. I got mine from Teebird Products - good people to deal with.

Cheers

Richard

Chelmsford

UK

I'll just throw this in ... HAve a look and make sure your exhausts are away from the chassis, on the off chance it might be that knocking...



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Hi

Thanks for the answer regarding Flexplate - mine is a 3 speed manual though

Listening to the engine over the weekend it seems to come from the top end?

Any suggestions?

Jaz

   You wrote

"Listening to the engine over the weekend it seems to come from the top end?

Any suggestions? "

OK a suggestion- MUCH MORE INFORMATION will really help. Like, you have had the car for 10 years and this just started to happen or, I just bought this car and, or after I changed the----- this started, or you know.

Take a short length of hose and try to locate the area of the noise and try to describe the noise. When you say the noise goes away when the engine speed is above idle do you mean goes away for good or does it return when the car is at idle again.

You have to be more descriptive if you want the right answer to your problem. Pete

I'm not quite certain of the exact meaning of "tick over". A slight translation problem.

If this is while you're operating the starter but the engine has not started I would suspect a problem with the starter or ring gear.

If you mean immediately after the engine starts but the knock goes away after a few seconds I would suspect worn main bearings. As soon as it gets oil pressure it quits knocking.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

maybe across the pond some things get lost in translation...how long has it been since the valves have been adjusted?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Do you mean adjust the tappets under the rocker covers?

'Tick-over' is idle

I've kind of got the hang of most translations from US to UK but I still can't work out what a 'scrub' is.

Richard

Chelmsford

UK