Found an SS, and it's the fast color

Paid for an hopefully picking up this weekend.  It's rough, but solid.  Seller thinks it has a rod knock, I kind of agree but don't agree at the same time.  When it's cold the engine is silent, sounds like any other LT1.  Once it warms up though you start to hear the faint knock/tick.  It continues to run smooth and when you rev it the sound gets faster, but not louder.  I'm confused, but it helped get the car for an ok price.
Looking into it's history it's been off the road for a long time.  The seller got it from the original owner but like me has too much crap to work on.  He had mentioned he original owner parked it after buying a new Chrysler 300 when the knock appeared.  I went through it's receipts (huge stack) and found the last receipt was in 2005 from a dealer to have the instrument panel replaced.  I ran a carfax on it, last registration was in 2004, and finally I found a plate number on one of the receipts which is still registered to an 06 Chrysler 300c.  So my best guess is that this thing has been sitting around since 2005/06.  Its crusty underneath it but not terrible. Because of this and other receipts, I question if the mileage is accurate. The last receipt with miles on it is from late 2003 at 148k.

Picture time!

Awesome, dude. That's my favorite color. Even if it is or isn't the fastest, it's still the best looking!

Take the belt off, see if it still makes the noise.

toomanytoyz wrote:

Awesome, dude. That's my favorite color. Even if it is or isn't the fastest, it's still the best looking!

Take the belt off, see if it still makes the noise.

Your one of those closet DGGM guys, I knew it!
When it gets here the diagnosing can start. It's coming from the back of the engine, leaves little hope for accessory issues.

95brmw wrote:

toomanytoyz wrote:

Awesome, dude. That's my favorite color. Even if it is or isn't the fastest, it's still the best looking!

Take the belt off, see if it still makes the noise.

Your one of those closet DGGM guys, I knew it!.........

No...not DGGM....I'll give you 1 more guess...

So its a knock sound not the infamous exhaust leak?

Hey...hope for the best...you dont hear of many rod or bearing problems unless there's driver abuse associated with them ...
(not that a flex plate is much better)

Keep us updated, we need some BADASS action here rather then hearing from the wahhmulance chasers    jumping ship lately.

We all know green means go, DGGM is the fastest cullah, dude-guy-kehd. Plus black, white, gray, etc. technically aren't colors, so there!

That really doesn't look bad. Now you can paint your undercarriage like I did!

Make sure that knock isn't a cracked flexplate, first. I thought mine was RK too. I was devastated. But nope. Cracked flexplate.

It may be a loose torque converter bolt. Had that problem with the 96 Roady.

The seller already pulled the cover and checked for the plate and the bolts. The fact that it does it when warm only kind of rules that out too. It's not an exhaust leak, my 9C1 has that sound but when cold. I'm hoping it's just a lifter or something top end that can be fixed, otherwise I do have another LT1 shoved in my garage somewhere.
Another thought that crossed my mind is maybe once the car goes into closed loop the computer is doing something to produce this sound (wishful thinking!)

I'll keep you updated on this thing, I'm in no way jumping ship, just throwing some passengers overboard

Optispark

Its Junk, you should just sell it to me! lol

boojum wrote:

Optispark

Possibility. I ha bought one of those no name ones before and when hot the opti would make a very loud ticking sound. I learned the value of a Delco at that point.

No Moa wrote:

Its Junk, you should just sell it to me! lol

Once I give up on it minutes after picking it up I'll let you know

95brmw wrote:

No Moa wrote:

Its Junk, you should just sell it to me! lol

Once I give up on it minutes after picking it up I'll let you know

lol

I think we need to start a subgroup, the New England Impala SS Rescue League

Bahahahaha.

1984twodoor wrote:

Matt Trakker wrote:

I think we need to start a subgroup, the New England Impala SS Rescue League

Cue the sad heart ripping music.

ls swap

Car made it home on it's knocking engine. It's without a doubt a rod knock, still seems odd that it doesn't do it when cold. Ended up driving it through one of the worst thunderstorms I've ever driven in, good times!
Shot of the used car lot that is my driveway this morning. I really gotta do something about this....

95brmw wrote:

Shot of the used car lot that is my driveway this morning.  I really gotta do something about this....

Professional help may be necessary.

Tom

Pulled some oil out of it, and there is metal particles in there. Good thing I have an LT1 buried in my garage somewhere. I'd like to LS it, but it's gonna be a while before that's affordable.
Mouse presence has been confirmed, while sitting in the car admiring it's awesomeness one ran across the floor and under the back seat. Time to break out the 9C1's old mouse trap collection

Time to strip out the whole interior and clean. Who knows what nasty mess is hidden in there.

Mouse motor, not mouse house...

toomanytoyz wrote:

Mouse motor, not mouse house...

Close, this one was living in the motor..

Oh look! He's even got his own little boat! Wait... Why is he upside down? Is it a... Whoa...

IT'S A TRAP!

toomanytoyz wrote:

Oh look! He's even got his own little boat! Wait... Why is he upside down? Is it a... Whoa...

IT'S A TRAP!

I was trying to figure out how the hell he knew if he climbed thru the hole and worked ONLY inside its diameter, he'd escape death.

Maybe he grew up in the 9C1 & watched his family experiment?

Well....obviously he miscalculated slightly....or it may have scared the hell out of him (like it does to me when it snaps in my hand) causing him to flinch into harms way

You may have killed the smartest mouse in CT....you bastid...

sdstick wrote:

toomanytoyz wrote:

Oh look! He's even got his own little boat! Wait... Why is he upside down? Is it a... Whoa...

IT'S A TRAP!

I was trying to figure out how the hell he knew if he climbed thru the hole and worked ONLY inside its diameter, he'd escape death.

Maybe he grew up in the 9C1 & watched his family experiment?

Well....obviously he miscalculated slightly....or it may have scared the hell out of him (like it does to me when it snaps in my hand) causing him to flinch into harms way

You may have killed the smartest mouse in CT....you bastid...

Without their brilliant leader all the others will panic and vacate this car and take up refuge in my Caddy

Video time:

Haha, you should just leave the cat in the car at times throughout the day with the windows down and the trunk open.

Did you pull the blower motor on that car yet? I wouldn't be surprised if it was packed full of crap and they were in there.

Already pulled it, a few turds fell out but nothing else. I think someone cleaned at already, the blower smells horrible.

It's been a long time since I made an update on this car, and I have made some progress.
I haven't even touched the motor yet, I've been de-mousing the interior.  St this point, a shorter list would be where I didn't find mouse shit.  I found that and nest material (insulation) in the A, B, and C pillars, the rails in the roof, the trunk lid, and the list goes on.  There must have been a hell of a nest under the center console, everything is rusty there and the floor shift cable grommet has been chewed completely off.
I opted to completely throw out the HVAC assembly, it was beyond nasty.  I cleaned and replaced that with a cleaner one I had from a parts wagon I had years ago.  The interior had to be completely gutted and scrubbed down with enzyme based cleaner to kill the smell.  I tried to clean the carpet but ended up throwing it out.
The more I tore into the car I found out someone had been this deep before, the insulation under the carpet was some store bought thin stuff, the headliner was duct taped together, and every bit of padding that could be thrown out was missing.
Between swap meets and trips to the junkyard I replaced the headliner, carpet, rear deck carpet, most of the interior plastic and the dash.  I had to clean the seats as SS seats are worth their weight in gold, but did manage to buy a used driver's cover to replace the torn one that also had a nest in the rear pocket.

At any rate, it smells 100x better and I can tolerate sitting in it.  Now it JUST needs the engine replaced  
Pics of the progress:

Rements of a nest and mountain of shit under the passenger air bag


Look at that chewed up foam in the center



The last time I had a B-body this stripped it was headed off to the crusher



Nasty old HVAC box


Hard to see, but there's rust on the roof from a nest that was above the headliner


Finally had a chance to wash it today, cleans up pretty nice

Time for a much overdue update.
Finally pulled the car out of "storage" (the back yard) a few weeks ago and got right to tearing the knocking engine out.  It's a damn shame this thing has a bad bearing, it's one of the best running LT1s I've ever owned and pulls real good.

The motor swapped in is an LT1 from a 94 RMW I bought years ago.  I took it apart and replaced the rod, main and cam bearings as they looked well worn and threw new rings and gaskets in there.  Being extremely cheap I cleaned all the parts at my work and did the "machine work" myself with some emery cloth and a drill powered hone.  Everything came out nice and within factory specs For the valved I cleaned everything up once again at work and lapped the valves.  Nothing fancy here, just a standard 150k LT1 that's bone stock.  The only mods done are put a vette servo in the trans with the .500 boost valve and an S10 torque converter (stall is around 2k RPM instead of the stock 1200rpm).  I would have liked to go with a 6.0L LS, but cash is tight, maybe down the road it will happen.

Had a week off between jobs so I got to pulling the drivetrain out.  I also swapped out the rusty PS fender well and the rad support with some clean NJ parts sourced from the Englishtown swap meet a few weeks prior.  I believe this thing had a battery leak which rusted out everything near by.

Finally got the car back together and much to my relief that motor started with no odd noises besides some clanking rockers.  I had to readjust them with the engine running and all is good.  This thing pulls hard and shifts great, really pleased with the turn out

Photo time:

Waking up from it's long winters nap:


worn bearings:


Cleaned parts:


My work bench is a bit of a dump:


Freshened up:


Helper cat slowing down progress:


Front end torn off:


Knocker coming out:





Gutted engine bay:




New motor in:



Ready to roll:

Painting it BBB will add at least 20 HP. True story

I would leave the cat where he is in case the mice wanna move back in. Great progress and the car is looking good.

I see you have a cursed tape deck. Nice job with the motor swap.

Awesome work! Moving right along.