97 F150 4.2 V6 "clatter"

[GaJim]

Been a great truck so far. All maint. done on time, no issues with truck up to now with the exception of that stupid coolant leak around the timing chain cover.

Daughter has truck now at college, wouldn't start on Thursday night. I went up to the school on Saturday to take a look at it, it started right up for me. Weird.

The problem is that the engine is making a VERY loud clattering noise now, so I shut the engine down right away. The noise seems to be coming from the lower front, around the main pully coming off the cracnk shaft. Any ideas?

Slug a rod? Harmonic balancer bad? Main baring going bad? Somebody help me save $3 or 4 thousand dollar engine rebuild.

Thanks in advance for the help guys.

Jim

[GaJim]

I finally got the truck home last night. When we cranked it to drive it off the utility trailer there was a lot of white smoke pouring out of the tail pipe. I assume that means there is water in at least one cylider. The loud knock seems to be coming from the "passenger side" of the engine.

So can I assume that I have a blown head gasket, which has allowed water in where and it shouldn't be? Also, can I assume that this water has fouled a valve and that is what is causing the knock?

Any ideas?

Jim

[bigredneck47240]

try going to www.fordtrucks.com there ae alot more people over there that could help you out with your problem

[72' Stang 351 H/O]

I'm going to say head gasket blew. Maybe you broke a rod,what else would make such a noise?