The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 engine noise

Het guys,

I finally got my 54 converted over to 12v, put HEI ignition in it and it starts right up and is running good. I'm not familiar with how the 235's are supposed to sound. All sounds good except what i would describe as a faint sound from the fan blade area, like it is rubbing against something. Checked all while it is running and everything looks good. I was wondering if that is just what they sound like or if maybe my water pump may be going out.

Water pump! That's my vote.

I guess I'll remove the top hose to the rad. and see if it's pumping. I had an old 8N ford tractor that the fan blade would lightly scrape the radiator fins....That's kind of what it sounds like.

The water pump can still pump water, but if the bearing is out of it that can cause the fan to hit the radiator and make damage.

Pull the fan belt to stop the water pump and the charging system, and see if the noise goes away. If not, it's probably the timing gears. Stovebolts are prone to have a humming noise caused by the bevel gears on the crankshaft and cam. While the belt is off, check the water pump and generator or alternator for bearing noise by spinning them by hand.
Jerry

Thanks guys, I'll Run through all the tips tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

sometimes, the belt itself will "whisper" and the pulley will act like a megaphone and broadcast the noise--try some belt dressing first its cheap and easiest to do.

How did you convert to 12 volts? If you went to an alternator, was the pulley the same width? Is the oulley alignment good?

did you change the coil out? In rebuilding my 261, I noticed that one of the screws holding the coil bracket to the cyl head lines up directly with a pushrod, and someone used a long enough screw in this thru hole to rub against the pushrod. Ate thru about a third of the pushrod shaft before I got the engine. I imagine it made a strange sound.

I removed the coil and Distributor and replaced with an HEI distributor. I switched to an alternator. It was not aligned properly at first, i thought that was what thge problem was so today i repositioned with the proper bracket and made sure it was perfect....still makes the sound. I will try some belt dressing first before i remove the belt and see if i still have the noise.....hopefully just a water pump.

Is it a ringing or clicking sound? I had a fan blade rubbing/hitting the balancer... I tweeked it until it quit.

Update: Looks like it was the water pump after all. I put some belt dressing on the belt first, no change, then i removed the belt and the noise stopped. I got a new water pump to put on today. Thanks all for the help!