Not opportunity knocking...

[Boosted_GR33K]

2 days ago, I was driving my ssei and it was hot out - REALLY hot out (99*F) Was driving back from dinner with the GF, when I noticed the temp gauge was about 220ish* (guessing thats what the next line is after 200* on my cluster?) Ever since then, I started the car up and now have what sounds like a broken rocker/bent rocker shaft. Still holding good oil pressure around 60lbs, but am worried about the rest of the motor with it having less than 100 miles to go till 240K. If/when I have to open the motor up, what kind of parts should I be looking to get? Figured factory got it to almost 240K, so should I just go with O.E. or are there better options out there? -Ben

[RJolly87]

Please check the condition/level of your coolant/oil. If you have a chocolate milkshake in your crankcase, you have a serious problem.

I also just did a quick search on your posts, and in the last month you have reported:

Coolant elbows leaking
P0300
Irradic Boost gauge readings

Do you know if/when the LIM gaskets were last done? I ask because failed LIM gaskets can cause the latter 2 conditions in certain circumstances, and you replace the first item when you do them anyway.

Don't mean to be paranoid, but I have heard these signs before...

[Boosted_GR33K]

Coolant is bright green and oil is clear. Coolant elbow issue was fixed a couple weeks ago (replaced with metal ones, along with heater hose fittings.) The boost gauge issue Ive been told by many people is just the gauge and happens all the time, and the randum/multiple cylinder missfire is the only mystery to me. I have no idea when the LIM gaskets have been changed (if ever), but from the sound the rear cylinder head is making, it will be getting replaced sooner than later Im sure...>_>

[freneticburn]

it kinda sounds like your engine may have had some coolant sucked in where it's not supposed to be. Quite frankly you'll probably never know until you crack open the engine and take a look inside. You could start by looking under the valve covers for anything obvious but most likely a rod bearing or crank bearing has been eaten at by coolant contamination.

[RJolly87]

Were you planning on mods? This might be a good excuse...

[Boosted_GR33K]

Were you planning on mods? This might be a good excuse...

Actually, I was. Should speed the process up quite a bit I think... >_> Any ideas?

it kinda sounds like your engine may have had some coolant sucked in where it's not supposed to be. Quite frankly you'll probably never know until you crack open the engine and take a look inside. You could start by looking under the valve covers for anything obvious but most likely a rod bearing or crank bearing has been eaten at by coolant contamination.

The noise is comming from the valvetrain. Ive nuked plenty of SBCs to know what a rod knock sounds like - this is something valvetrain related. Holding strong oil pressure, oil is clean no metal, coolant still bright green. Will be pulling the valve covers off this weekend to finger it out. -Ben

[Zazou]

Does it sound like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnanIbaPzKI
I had that noise,300 miles after I bought my 98SE, changed the HB, but no luck.
I dropped the oil pan and found 1 shattered piston bearing, and 1 was cracked.

[Boosted_GR33K]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-Iu9Txt8c like this (I know its not a bonnie, but thats the noise.)

[Jfridge92]

Jack the car up and put it on jackstands (or if you're small enough to slide under it while it's still on the ground like me, that will work too). Use either a mechanic's stethescope or a long screwdriver, and while it's running, put the tip of the screwdriver on the oil pan, and put the handle against your ear. Try and see if the noise is louder from under the car than the top. Then put the screwdriver along the rear valve cover and repeat the test. If it's louder from under the car, it's likely a rod bearing, and your engine is on borrowed time.

If it's from the top, you may have a loose rocker, broken valve spring, or a bent pushrod, maybe even a collapsed lifter. I haven't really heard of too many top end failures, but they aren't uncommon.

Like others have said, really the only way to know what's going on is to get down in there. If you're mechanically inclined enough, I would go ahead and pull the valve covers and take a look if that sounds like where the noise is coming from. Keep us updated, and try and post a video if you can. We can definitely help more from a video.