440 Engine Squeal

[71_340Challenger]

I just got done rebuilding my 440 (again, long story on several different threads). I got it started up and, while breaking in the new cam, there was a near constant whine/squeal noise coming from the engine. It is somewhat high pitched, but barely load enough to hear over the normal engine/exhaust noise. I thought it might be from new belts, so I removed the 2 belts one at a time. First the power steering, then the alternator. No difference and the noise is still there. Anyone have any thoughts? It almost sounds like a dry seal somewhere, but I lubed everything up with oil or assembly lube. I rebuild the transmission while everything was out. Could it be coming from it? It sounds more like it is coming from the front of the engine, but tough to tell for sure.

The good news is that the new 440 started right up and ran great through the 30 minute break-in, except for the noise. So, I am happy with that. I am just concerned now and hoping I do not have to take the engine out AGAIN! After work tomorrow, I will try starting it again and see if the noise changes/goes away when it is cold or not. I have previously had a aftermarket damper that would start to rub on the front of the timing cover when it got warm. This noise sounds similar, but I put it back together with the stock damper and cover, so I am doubting that is the problem this time.

Help, someone!!! Thanks.

[Moparal]

If your pulley bolts are too long, they will rub on the timing cover.  If the chain splash shield is backwards it will rub the lower timing gear.  If the fuel pump rod is bad, it will make a noise, if you installed a rocker wrong, the pushrod will rub I do believe. Windage tray bent?

I don't know

[71_340Challenger]

Moparal
Interesting thoughts you have. I reused the same bolts on the pulley that I had last time, which did not squeal. They are about as short as you can get, I think they are about 1/2 in long at most. It is a new fuel pump rod, or at least it was prior to the last rebuild. It is an ARP one and it only has about 250 miles on it. So, I am hoping that is not the issue. It was a brand new windage tray and I don't believe it was bent when I installed it. Hopefully it is not that. I really don't want to have to pull the pan. I have a new adjustable rocker arm setup this time. If I over/under tightened them, would that make them squeal? I will have to check them tomorrow and see if they look correctly installed or if a push rod is rubbing on something. Which direction is  the splash guard supposed to go? I am pretty sure (no pics to prove it) that I installed it as shown in the manuals, with the steps facing the front of the engine and the back of the oil slinger/splash shield up flat against the timing gear. Again, I hope it is not that. I don't want to have to tear into the engine again, even if I can do it in the car.

Thanks for the input. I will let you know what I find tomorrow after work when I try again. 

[Chryco Psycho]

assuming your oil pressure is stiill the same & the engine still starts & runs well I doubt you have a serious / brg issue , was the oil pump drive tight going into the bushing in the block ? what about a flex plate rubbing / bent ?

[nivvy]

do you have a powersteering pump hooked up.... i had this happen on time and it got sucked dry on startup and was a high pitch squelling... need to add more fluid.... 

[moper]

Is it on one side more than the other? If you take a long prybar or extension, and place it on the head on each side, can you hear the noise? (It may not sound like a squeal then...) What kind of starter is on it? What kind of carb and air cleaner?

[71_340Challenger]

I did not get much of a chance to tinker tonight with it. Here is what I did find out.



It does not make the sound when cold. Today, the noise was quieter than yesterday. I let the car warm up for about 15 minutes or so to around 180 and found it did not make a noticeable sound until it was at least 160-170 (which coincidently should be the thermostat that I currently have installed. Before I started it, I filled the radiator with a little more than 2 gallons of water/antifreeze. I then ran it during the 15 minutes of the break-in without the cap and the heater on. After that, I added less than a half a gallon of fluid and put the cap on and ran it another 15 minutes to finish the cam break in. I did let it cool for an hour or so and sprayed a bunch of water through the radiator to cool things down to around 150-160 before running the second 15 minutes. Today, I topped it off again with a little more fluid. I have the stock radiator with an aluminum water pump and housing. The information I have says the capacity should be 15.5 quarts. Does that seem right? I have only put in about 10. What else can I do to get the coolant into the engine? I was thinking I would remove the heater hoses and fill the water pump housing that way. Any other ideas on how to purge the coolant system? I have always just run it with the cap off and the heater on and it has worked. I am thinking that this is the cause the noise since it only appears when it gets warm and today was better than yesterday. Does this make sense? I am hoping that I have not done any damage or warped anything.

It is not the alternaltor or the power steering pump. Removed the belt from both and no chage.

Oil pressure it good. At idle, it is sitting at around 55-60 psi. During the first rebuild I put in a high pressure/high volume oil pump. This is similar to what it was before. No difficulties installing the oil pump shaft into the pump, it slide right in with no real resistance.

I did not check on the flex plate. I did not notice any damage or warping while installing it. It was reused from the previous rebuild. Everything seemed to line up OK and I did not have any difficulties getting the bolts installed one I the flex plate lined up with the torque converter. I am still low on transmission fluid though. When I rebuilt the tranny, I put a deep pan on it, so I know I need more. Stock capacity according to what I have shows 16.75 pts (8.375 quarts). I prefilled the torque converter and I have put in an additional 9 quarts. Probably another quart or two should do it.

It does seem slightly louder on the passenger side than the drivers side, but not a lot. I don't notice much difference from front to back of the engine.

That is all I know for now. Any help/comments are appreciated. Thanks for all the help and ideas so far.