CK5
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1973 C10 "The Purple Truck"

Basic build
The radio is working well. My favorite feature is still the setting that starts the volume low every time you start the vehicle. I'm so used to worrying about that, I'll get to my destination with the radio blasting away, turn the truck off and for an instant I think "damn I didn't get the volume turned turned down!" Then I remember I don't have to worry about it.

I use it with the Amazon Echo Auto connected to the radio via the aux cable, so I have all the bluetooth features it would have if the radio itself was equipped with bluetooth. The one negative I've found is if I'm listening to the radio and a call comes in, I have to remember to change the input on the radio to AUX whereas if the radio was factory equipped it would have changed automatically.

The radio is made by RetroSound. I have been window shopping them for quite a while on ebay and Crutchfield. The prices on them are pretty steady across any of the online stores. I ended up finding this one on Amazon and it was handy because it already had the appropriate knobs and bezel for the C10. If you order on Crutchfield, you can pick and choose the knobs and bezel you want. Prices come out the same.

Now that I have it set up with the cab corner speakers in addition to the center dash and sub woofer, I can't think of a complaint.
 
Got a ticking noise that's baffling me. It kinda sounds like exhaust but I can't locate a leak. Seems to be coming more from the front of the motor. I only hear it walking in front of the motor. I keep thinking it's something vibrating but nothing I've touched stops the noise. Curious if anyone has any other ideas.

The noise idling in Park.

Idling in Drive it's barely perceptible.

I haven't been able to check the noise with someone around the help me test higher RPM. It just occurred to me I could have laid the phone on the ground to record while I ran the gas pedal.
 
@mrk5 a few places to look...
  • I'd start with exhaust manifold gaskets and collector donuts.
  • Another possibility is the timing chain might be stretched and slapping the timing chain cover. Get a mechanics stethoscope and take a listen around that area.
  • Also, could be the fan hitting the fan shroud, I've had that happen before.

Good luck!
 
@mrk5 a few places to look...
  • I'd start with exhaust manifold gaskets and collector donuts.
  • Another possibility is the timing chain might be stretched and slapping the timing chain cover. Get a mechanics stethoscope and take a listen around that area.
  • Also, could be the fan hitting the fan shroud, I've had that happen before.

Good luck!
'
I don't have a mechanical fan anymore, but that was one of my first thoughts. I was thinking I may try the poor mans stethoscope and get one of my long screw drivers out. :) Although maybe this is a good excuse to buy the real thing. :thinking:

I did check around the exhaust donuts and they look good - I replaced them a little more than a year ago. I put my hand around them and didn't really feel any leaks. I also checked all of the manifold bolts for tightness.

I was thinking maybe I could use an inspection mirror around the manifold and look for the mirror to clouded from a leak.
Timing chain clanking against the cover?
I was wondering if that's a possibility. Every time I investigate the sound I start thinking exhaust leak but I just get drawn back to the front of the motor. I really "feel" like it's coming from the balancer area.

The first time I noticed the noise I thought it was the front bumper because it's just held on with the 4 regular hex head bolts and the 2 bottom ones are missing. But putting my hand on it doesn't change anything. Like I said, my initial reaction is the noise is coming from the front of the motor near the crank.

I think I'm going to look into getting a stethoscope.
 
@mrk5 No way your bumper is making that noise unless your engine shakes like a mother trucker! At which point, you probably have bigger issues than a loose timing chain.
 
Interested to find out what it is... My 454 makes a tick similar to that. But not all the time? Driving me nuts!
 
Got a ticking noise that's baffling me. It kinda sounds like exhaust but I can't locate a leak. Seems to be coming more from the front of the motor. I only hear it walking in front of the motor. I keep thinking it's something vibrating but nothing I've touched stops the noise. Curious if anyone has any other ideas.

The noise idling in Park.

Idling in Drive it's barely perceptible.

I haven't been able to check the noise with someone around the help me test higher RPM. It just occurred to me I could have laid the phone on the ground to record while I ran the gas pedal.
At first it sounded like my engine with what I believe is a collapsed lifter but then your rattle sounds erratic no real rythm and my diagnosis is timing chain hitting the cover.
 
With the engine off, have nichole yell at you through the tail pipe. Where the shriek comes out, is the leak.
I doubt I could talk her into that one. :thinking:

@mrk5 It's $5 at your local Harbor Freight. It's worth its weight in gold! https://www.harborfreight.com/mechanics-stethoscope-63691.html
I didn't think about HF, I went ahead and ordered one from Amazon.

Have you pulled belts and ran the engine? Quick way to eliminate anything accessory wise..
That's a good idea. I replaced the belts no long ago and the first thing I wondered is a belt was hitting/rubbing something.

Any possibility it's a loose converter bolt maybe? Hard to tell.
I did think about that too. There was a receipt for a transmission rebuild in the glovebox when we bought the truck, so it has been touched since the assembly line. But the noise seems to be quieter as I crawl closer to the trans.

Interested to find out what it is... My 454 makes a tick similar to that. But not all the time? Driving me nuts!
I try to be good about posting back with solutions. One of my biggest peeves is when you're internet searching for some problem and you find a thread with someone that had the exact same problems and then they never post a solution.

At first it sounded like my engine with what I believe is a collapsed lifter but then your rattle sounds erratic no real rythm and my diagnosis is timing chain hitting the cover.
It sounds more regular idling in park, but in Drive like you mention it's more erratic sounding.

I did check this morning once the motor was off the choke high idle, but still cold and the noise was not there. That makes me start to think it's exhaust manifold gasket issue because it may only leak once the motor is fully up to temperature and bolts loosen up due to expansion. The driver side exhaust manifold was replaced when I first bought the truck but the passenger side is untouched - by me. Oddly when I checked the bolts for tightness I noticed a few of the bolts had 2 lock washers under their heads.
 
[QUOTE="mrk5, post:




I try to be good about posting back with solutions. One of my biggest peeves is when you're internet searching for some problem and you find a thread with someone that had the exact same problems and then they never post a solution.

—_____________________________________\__


Yup that is a big thing! I know you are good at follow ups. I try to do the same. I’d say about 80% of what I look up doesn’t have the solution posted.

I need to get a stethoscope as well! The long screwdriver trick is not the best!
:haha:
 
It's fun to listing to different things on the motor with the stethoscope. :rotfl:

The sound is definitely strongest when touching the bottom of the timing chain cover. I'm wondering if this still has the original timing chain maybe it could be the plastic crap that falls off those. The sound diminishes significantly if I move up the side of the timing chain cover. It's also not very strong when I touch the oil pan.

I guess I'm going to have to plan on pulling the timing chain cover. Definitely going to be a MAW project. Might as well replace the water pump while it's off, you know because.... Might as well pull the oil pan entirely and do the main seal. Might as well replace the motor with a big block....

Just kidding about that last one...... mostly......
 
I should add the engine seems to be running just fine and not erratic like I would expect from a bad timing chain. I am planning to put a timing light on it to see if timing is jumping around at all.
 
@max 02, case in point: https://www.chevelles.com/forums/18-engine/989306-timing-chain-ticking-sound.html No resolution to what sounds like the exact same problem I'm experiencing. I'm thinking this post from that thread might fit my situation tho:

Years ago I tore down a tired 350 that was still running but leaking oil from the timing cover and making an odd ticking noise at the same spot. The engine hadn't jumped time, but when I pulled the cover the chain was so loose it had slapped the cover until it wore a hole in it.
 
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