Hey guys,
About 2 years ago my car started making a 'clack clack clack' sound. It turned out that the flexplate to crankshaft bolts were all very loose (I took them all out by hand). I have also been told that this same sound can be produced by a cracked flexplate.

Now, to back to the present. About a month or so ago my car started making a sound that was very similar to the previous one. At first it was very faint and I continued to drive the car. It procedded to get louder and louder (sound only occurs below 1250 RPMs and it happens regardless of whether or not I'm in gear. I pull the motor out and during the course of a visual examination have only found two things that weren't right.

First the torque convertor bolts weren't that tight. I couldn't get them out by hand but once I put a combination wrench on them they turned very easily.

Second, the oil pump pickup was not all the way seated. The tack weld had broke (I welded it - that's the problem) and the pickup had moved about 1/8" away from the pump. It still seamed pretty secure, but it wasn't all that difficult to pull it out by hand.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go ahead and replace the flexplate? Could the semi-loose TC bolts be causing a problem? What could the effect of the loose pickup be?

Thanks,
Brady

pick up loose could have let it drop down enough to contact the pan.

Thanks, anybody have any other ideas...

Have you pulled your oil dipstick and looked at it? I've had them turn inside the pan and hit the crank ever so slightly, makes a nice tick.

Thanks, I pulled it out but didn't look at it. I'll check it out.

With the engine in the car have you removed all the belts to make sure what you are hearing is coming for within the engine? I had a noise that I thought was coming from the powersteering pump,then I thought it was coming from the water pump. I found out it was coming from the alternator.

Can't say that I have checked but it really sounds like its coming from somewhere in the back of the engine.

Distributor?