Diagnose: Timing Chain

[Dennis H]

Distinctive clicking on start up cold. First start only. Goes away completely, but not immediately. Suspect timing chain. Been this way with no changes for 2 years, maybe 8000 miles. The clutch fan was recently replaced and the 440 is running so sweet I hate to go anywhere near that area right now if I don't have to. Have an upcoming 1000 or so miles trip to Death Valley etc. Is there a way to diagnose a chain when cold and not running. Impending failure? Oil pressure, engine temp all good under all conditions. 100 degree extended idling and 10000 ft elevation. Uses a quart to a thousand, no smoke.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Without hearing it, its all but impossible to tell. Ive never heard a chain give any audible warning and i have had 2 fail on me. Both in 318's. One quit with no warning. The other jumped time out of nowhere. I set the ignition timing back 10° and the next day the chain let go completely. Both caused by the vinyl coating on the cam gear disintegrating. I would speculate it may be a lifter bleeding down, and then has to pump back up once running, but hard to say without hearing it.

 

[Dennis H]

Thanks. I will get advice on shooting and posting a short audio clip.

 

[coloradodave]

Dennis,
Did they use forged pistons in your build? If so, they are noise makers until they warm up a little and expand. Hopefully, that's all it is.

 

[Ron Ward]

I had a lifter on my old 318 that would make a noise until it warmed up and went away. Can you pinpoint where the noise is coming from? Top end? Bottom end? Front of engine? Rear? etc....

 

[lewtot184]

i imagine it's a tappet bleeding down. when it gets oil under pressure during running it pumps up again.

 

[Dennis H]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the front of the engine. Like that clicking noise you can make with your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Sounds like it follows as oppose to leads. Rhythmic. Oil and filter have not particles seen at oil change time.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Forged slugs?

 

[Dennis H]

Pistons: UEM-KB237030-8 Mopar 440 .030 over Hypereutectic 4.350 in. bore per the build sheet. What does this mean? Motor is 10 years old.

 

[Dave L]

I had a noise similar to what your explaining. It was my new Howards cams fuel pump rod. When I compaired it to a original one it was wore about 3/16"