strange screeching noise - 440
 

Hi

Wonder if I can ask you folks some advice as I'm on a bit of a downer with my car.

I've been putting my Jensen Interceptor (440) back together after about a 6 year lay up and recent paint job. In the interim it was only started to move it around the garage and when I drove it off the trailer into my garage a couple of months ago I did hear a faint screeching noise but figured it was just a belt or the power steering pump.

I've just fitted a set of edelbrock heads and new distributor and just started it. Its running fine however the screeching noise is still there and pretty much continuous. It can be best be described as a quieter version of the screeching noise you hear when you have a loose belt. I've pulled all the belts off the aircon, steering pump, water pump etc but its still there and seems to be coming from the front crank area (or perhaps front cam??) - which a real pain and I thought I was almost there!! I'm figuring it could be a main or cap bearing or possiblly a cam bearing that hasn't liked being sat still for an extended period of time.

When I fitted the engine 6 years back (I bought a short block from the US) it was running fine although I never drove it on the road as I then had to save up to sort the body work. I'm figuring the extended layup has causing some sort of issues.

I'd be really grateful for any advice as I'm pretty fed up and can't believe that I'm going to have to pull the block out again.
I've attached a video recording of the sound I can hear. I've just started the car (warm) and the noise comes in after about 50 seconds into the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBMTCHS ... e=youtu.be

Grateful for any advice before I go a buy another engine crane!!

Many thanks

Alex
England

check the water pump and alternator for bad bearings.

Alex -

Ya got me, but I would rule out most of the usual suspects due to the fact that it doesn't change in pitch with rpm changes.
So what retains a constant speed, despite changes in rpm?

Archer

Remove one belt at a time and see if the noise goes away?

check the cutch fan also.

Alex -

Does the car have a heater - is the fan blowing?

Archer

Looks to me like the belts riding to low down in the pulley? I agree... Pull the belts and see if the noise goes away...

My fan clutch was making a similar sound, and it is right in front of the crank. check that.

Hi, I just read your question about the strange screeching noise in a 440 Mopar engine, even though it was a few years ago. Now I have the exact same thing going on in a 440 that's in my '68 GTX. I too took off all the belts and ran the engine. The noise is still there! I was very frustrated that I could not figure it out. Can you tell me what the noise was in your engine? I'm at my wits end trying to figure it out and if I have to pull my engine out of my completely restored GTX. There's only 3K miles on the complete rebuilt engine. Many thanks to you for your answer.

I'd check out the timing chain cover, maybe it's rubbing on the chain.

Have you pulled all the belts off, and then listened to the the various covers, with a long rod or stethoscope? Old trick that works to locate the area of a noise. Put the belts back on one at a time, and listen to those accessories, alt, WP, AC etc. in the same manner. It should help you isolate the squeal. You can keep the battery charged with a charger. Hope this helps.

I finally found the screeching noise on my 440 engine. I was getting ready to take off the intake when I called one more person who worked at a Mopar dealership for over 40 years. He found the base gasket on the carb to be bad. The screeching noise was actually a vacuum leak. When he came to listen to the engine, I started the car and there was no noise. I had to start the car several times before it would start the screeching. One of his suggestions was a bent shaft on the starter index. He said he's seen that already where the gear was stuck out and spinning on the fly wheel, but no noise coming from the starter. So I pulled off the carb, and now it's time to install a new base gasket. He found the noise by using a heater hose to the ear and putting the other end around the engine parts while it's running. We determined it was coming from the carb. Edelbrock 750. Then we sprayed carb cleaner near the base of the carb, the noise went away. So then we knew it was the gasket at the base of the carb. Easy fix.

WOW! :clap: That is a strange one. Excellent track down, glad you did not have to tear it down. Reminded me of a squeaky air intake hose on a truck I had back in the 1900's. The gasket did not cross my mind. I'll file it away for in the things to forget with my old timers.

a