AMC 360 Problem Tick Tick Tick

[carlsorensen]

I was just out playing with it for the last hour and it seems that the noise is definitley coming from the front..

But it's not a tick... it's like a grinding sort of ticking and it seems to come and go... Not very steady.

I don't know what to do...

Carl Sorensen

[ol' school power]

Have you tried it without the belts?

[carlsorensen]

Ol School,

DOH... Yeah I did try it without the belts... And it still sounded like it was there just way quieter...

But I am the kind of person who gets paranoid and hears all kinds of things when something is bugging me

I have had this Jeep for nearly 9 years... In it's time I have heard and diagnosed a lot of noises...

But this one just stumps me... I am scared the bearings are toast or something and I don't want to drive it. It's a 40 minute drive just to get it to the machine shop. Or about $150 tow bill! I would prefer neither.

Carl Sorensen

[ol' school power]

I was just thinking of the water pump impeller scraping into the back of the timing cover. I've seen a few go that way.
If you're running a roller timing chain, sometimes you can hear them through the cover ( if the engine's quiet enough).
Certainly nothing that I drive.

[carlsorensen]

Thank you for all the help thus far everyone.

Good suggestion on the Water Pump Ol' School I checked that but to no avail... it still continues...

HOWEVER...

Today I grabbed a cardboard tube from some wrapping paper and started listening around the engine to figure out "Where" this is coming from and my conclusion is the Fuel Pump.

It's a "Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap" And is really strong when I put the tube to my ear and touch it to the pump.

On the timing cover casing and waterpump I can still hear the "Tap, Tap, Tap" but it's definitly not as strong as when I place the tube and listen to the Fuel Pump.

So do you think that could actually be the problem?

Carl Sorensen

[jeepsr4ever]

I had a fuel pump do that to me twice!!

[carlsorensen]

So it's the Fuel Pump?

I ordered a new one anyways...

Could this be the result of an underlying problem? The fuel pump was a used unit.

I shall see what happens. Thank you everyone. This is the best AMC/Jeep forum I have found.

Carl Sorensen

[73hornut]

Might be a worn fuel pump accentric. The one on my 401 had a 1/4in deep groove worn in it.

[carlsorensen]

Got the new fuel pump and put it in and voila... that nasty tick was gone...

Now onto the lifters and exhaust leak... I love AMC don't get me wrong... and am glad I have that 360 in the Jeep because it's fun as hell...

It's the "behind the scenes" stuff that is annoying.

Thanks for your help

Carl Sorensen