Help! Car troubles!?

Question

I have a 73 Plymouth Duster, so now for the first problem... (i apologize for the long question, i'll be sure to give the 10 Pt's.)

1. When driving at about 20mph, the car starts to make a squealing noise, and gets louder as you go faster. I have change the Rotors, change the calipers and the shoes, replaced the wheel bearings and greased them very well. The noise went away the first day, but the next day, it came back. It sounds 101% positive that it's the front right wheel but the sounds still their after replacing all that. Any other ideas?

2. The engine was rebuilt and I replaced every part with street/strip performance parts. But when the car idles I hear a slight ticking noise along with a slight squishing noise, est. 2-3 times per second. Even after the car is driving around for about 5 minutes. The car does have hydraulic tappet lifters, so I am worried one of them is bad already. But the engine only has about 10 miles on it. The engine has never gone over 3500rpm so I believe the lifter isn't "pumped up". But if it was mysteriously clogged, what can i use to unclog it without taking the engine apart?

I've been starting to lose hope on this car with problem after problem after problem (there's been tons), so any opinions at all would help.

Answer 1

When you replaced the bearings,did you over tighten the nut?

Do you have dust covers?,If so.maybe it got bent an is rubbing the rotor.

Did you put different tires on and the rim is rubbing the caliper?

Did you replace the push rods?..Where the new ones the same length?

What about a valve not opening or closing properly,,that can make a gap between the rocker and the push rod,and make it tap also

Answer 2

First off the lifters. When the engine is originally built the valve train is designed to give a certain "cold" clearance for the lifters so that when they pump up they are neither too loose no too tight. When you service the heads the seats and valves being ground change this symmetry. If it is not restored the valve lash will be incorrect. Some engines have adjustments on the rockers to compensate for it and some do not. The factory manual will usually give a preset clearance for the valves which must be done with each cylinder at Top Dead Center and prior to the lifters being pumped up. Otherwise the lifters must be adjusted by ear. If the engine doesn't have means for this adjustment then it must be accomplished by restoring the valve train to factory height specs. As to the noise in the front end I'd suggest you have a good front end man ride with you and see if he can isolate the problem. Guessing from here won't accomplish much.

Answer 3

1. I would check your suspension components...maybe a worn ball joint.

2. the ticking noise comes from improperly adjusted valve lash.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Could be a lifter, as you rev up your engine it will get louder and it could be a belt, if to tight or loose they will make a squealing noise. Just go to autozone or advance and use some cleaner, that you can put in the oil after changing, which will help free up the lifter, by eating up the dirt or grime.