90 Caprice lower engine noise?

I have a 90 Caprice 9C1 police car with a 5.7L TBI and a nasty sounding noise coming from the lower rear of the oil pan. I removed the inspection cover thinking maybe the flex plate bolts were loose but the weren't. Since there's only fins or blades in the torque converter I'm thinking bearings. I'd like to get some opinions before I drop the pan so I recorded the sound with my cam and uploaded the video to you tube. If you have a sec please have a listen and let me know what you think. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw0x81dADMQ

I have a 90 Caprice 9C1 police car with a 5.7L TBI and a nasty sounding noise coming from the lower rear of the oil pan. I removed the inspection cover thinking maybe the flex plate bolts were loose but the weren't. Since there's only fins or blades in the torque converter I'm thinking bearings. I'd like to get some opinions before I drop the pan so I recorded the sound with my cam and uploaded the video to you tube. If you have a sec please have a listen and let me know what you think. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw0x81dADMQ

Sounds like a broken flexplate to me.

That ain't opportunity knockin :shakehead

I also think it could be a cracked flex plate.
I don't think you can see the bolts holding it onto the crank without moving the trans back a bit.
I had one break completely around the bolts and it was easy to see with the inspection cover removed.
Cheap enough part but a fair amount of labor involved. Trans does not have to be removed, just moved back a bit to gain access.
Good Luck

Al :smokin:

Ah! I'd much rather replace a flex plate then a rotating assy.! Exploratory surgery begins tomorrow! Thanks guys!

Since the inspection cover is off, checking the flexplate is fairly easy, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on that being all the noise.

You'll have to unbolt the converter and slide it back to look at the center/hub area of the flexplate.