JC316

Pretty simple question. I have had a knocking that has haunted my car since I got it. It's not in the motor, I have checked and changed everything possible over two DIFFERENT motors and the knock remains. I can put the car in any gear and let out on the clutch 3/4 of the way and the knock stops. If the clutch is all the way in, or all the way out, it knocks. If it's in gear, or out of gear, it knocks. Only when it's in gear and that 3/4 zone does it stop.

So, my question is what can make that kind of noise in the clutch/bell housing area?

Here are a couple of videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWvVzFBT6WI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPLAaf-liTI

PowerPonyPatrol

Doesn't sound like it's anything to do with the clutch to me. I had the same problem with mine for a while, it eventually went away. Sounds like it's something internally on the engine to me. I would take a stethoscope and listen above each cylinder, then you can determine which one is knocking (if any).

If you're curious, here's what mine sounded like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdZVolqfSQA

JC316

Yours sounds like a rod knocking. I don't know how it cleared up on it's own, but I am reasonably confident that it will return.

Now. I have stethoscoped every possible place on that block. I have disabled cylinders one at a time, I have changed the lash adjusters, I have rebuilt and double checked the rods/mains. I have rebuilt the timing system and even switched to a different brand of spark plug and NOTHING has affected this knock. My oil pressure is fine, it's not a broken heatshield on the exhaust or a loose catalytic converter. I have checked every possible thing except the clutch.

I just tested it again. Chocked the rear tires, set the emergency brake and put it in 5th gear. Release the clutch and keep the revs around 1000K RPM, which is where it knocks the loudest and it completely shuts up when the clutch is 3/4 of the way out.

PowerPonyPatrol

Well if you've gone over all that in the engine and narrowed it down to the clutch area, only thing I could think of would be the TOB or pilot bearing.

JC316

Pilot bearing is new and the TOB is newish. I am just sick of going on a goose chase which is why I am asking here before I pull the tranny.