After I start the my 1972 Nova SS (350 4 bolt main, bored .60 over, TH350 auto tranny) and put it in gear, sometimes there is a rattle that sounds like it is the passenger exhaust. However, it only does it sometimes and it is a very deep rattle. You can feel the rattle on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel. We have checked transmission bolts, exhaust bolts, everything. What could it be? Could it be my transmission crossmember being loose?
2007-11-20 07:43:20 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
has a brand new torque converter on it. 3000rpm stall to be exact. you can only feel it on the passenger side of the tunnel
2007-11-20 07:52:06 · update #1
torque converter??
2007-11-20 07:47:56 · answer #1 · answered by Jim H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
More than likely the motor and transmission mounts are going bad or have pulled loose.
The rubber blocks that allows the engine and transmission to run without transmitting vibrations to the frame is vulconized to the steel plates on each pad. A car that old more than likely has had the rubber seperate or cracked. You have to jack up the engine to see if they lift up off the mounts. If they do, you need to replace the rubber mounts.
When you put a heavy load on the engine during acceleration, the engine will pull up off broken mounts and cause the exhaust or other parts to hit the frame and make really loud rattling noises.
Pretty much a normal event on older vechicles. By the way that was a nice car in it's day.
Answer to update: In the event that the motor mounts are bad, the passenger side is where the engine would lift as you give the engine gas under a load. You can also lift the hood, have someone watch the engine from the side of the car (so you don't run over them), put it in gear with the brakes on and give the engine gas, the engine will lift up to one side if the motor mounts are bad also...
2007-11-20 07:52:01 · answer #2 · answered by fogtender 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
While 20" rims are the bomb these days on a classic car like that I wouldn't change rim size nor would I change rims. Years ago the thing to do if you had a car like that was to put Cragar S/S rims with wide 60 series tires in the rear and 70 series in the front. These days a much more popular and value retaining option is to keep the tire size closer together and replace the rims with the factory mags. The paint is probably original and I would go back with the Chevrolet Orange. If the car is a true S/S it should have come with a 350cu. It should have the S/S emblems not only on the quarter panels but also on the grill. The only changes I would even consider and that would be only if you weren't planning to show it would be to have the interior redone in a black tuck and pleat. That'd be a sweet ride. The Chevelle was a much more popular version of the Chevy muscle car and in the S/S version usually came with a 396cu that would easily take the 350 Nova.
2016-05-24 08:36:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the car on jack-stands and check the motor mounts on the side of the engine. Usually the left side mount bites the dust first. Slide in a a 3' crow bar and lift the motor away from the frame. Check both sides. The standard soft rubber mounts get softer with age.
Energy suspension makes motor mounts and transmission tail shaft mounts with tougher stuff inside than rubber.
With your converter and a much more stout motor the mounts are being stretched to the limit.
2007-11-20 08:15:33 · answer #4 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a good chance its the exhaust on the right hitting the floor and throwing the sound, I had that happen on a 57 I installed a 350 400 turbo in and it drove me nuts, after I walked away from it a day I realized I needed to bolt down the exhaust with good frame to exhaust clamps and when I checked the ones on the car they was one that had pulled through the clamp. Hope this helps, God Bless
2007-11-20 07:57:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Check rhe transmission crossmember where it bolts to the frame. Check the transmission mount bushings.
Check the motor mounts.
2007-11-20 07:51:41 · answer #6 · answered by Mad Jack 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sure it could be the cross member...
look at the exhaust again if it is almost hitting anything, remember things move when it is in gear...
is the trans mount broken ?
they are known for breaking with a strong motor..
i am sure the left motor mount and trans mount have been replaced many times...but it is probably the trans mount even if you changed it recently
by the way,
that is still a much nicer car than the junk they sell today
2007-11-20 07:52:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
check the cross member bolts and also check any brackets you have on it,one may be loose and be causing this to happen,anything on that side of the car i would go over and re-torque it,and its possible it could be in the tranny,i have seen this happen a lot especially with a stall converter in them,good luck on it.
2007-11-20 07:59:23 · answer #8 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
check your rear transmission mount for being broke.
2007-11-20 12:07:53 · answer #9 · answered by mister ss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋