1996 Chevrolet Corsica Engine rebuild Question

Hey guys. might be acquiring a 1996 corsica with the 4 cylinder engine in it. The original owner has been driving it around with an engine noise for quite some time now. The tick is rather loud and seems metallic. It sounds almost like a valvetrain tick, but louder. The lifters have been replaced when the tick or knock started, but it still knocks. The knock seems slower than crank speed and seems to lighten up when decellerating. I suspect a piston wrist pin.

What do you guys think?

I know a lot about auto mechanics and was considering an engine rebuild if I do in fact purchase it.

I have never really worked on this motor so my question is how easy it is to remove the oil pan? Does the subfram have to come off? How do I support the motor? I wold be doing this job on the ground so any pointes would be appreciated. How about the pistons? Can they come out the bottom end without removing the crank? (probably not, but i thought maybe the rod could be disconnected and the crank could be rotated and maybe if I got lucky there would be enough room to sneak out a piston.)

How about knock diagnosis. Any pointers on how to narrow it down to a specific cylinder?

Thanks for any info!!

Try shorting one cylinder at time if it diminshes it is in the piston/rod area. Pistons come out the top.

yeah, I was initially gonna do a cylinder drop, and I pretty much figured the pistons have to come out the top.

How about the oil pan? how easy of a job is it to remove?

Maybe I should just buy a rebuilt and drop it in.

THANKS MAX!!!!