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Strange knock noise (with video)

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    Strange knock noise (with video)

    This is on our SpecE30 race car. I noticed a weird noise this weekend. It almost sounds like someone tapping their knuckles on the body of car. Here's a recording of it, pay no attention to video portion as I'm not trying to show anything, just using it for the audio recording of a knock sound that is only audible in the cabin.

    Video was taken at 2000rpm where it seems the easiest to hear. Note the frequency of the knock does change with engine speed but not in sequence with RPM (2000rpm=33.3rev/sec) or with a single cylinder's firing. No change if the clutch is in or out. Cannot be heard from outside the cabin as the normal valvetrain noise is louder. You can feel the knock if your hand is on the cowl steel just below the windshield. You cannot feel the knock with a hand on the intake manifold or on the transmission from the bottom side but this may just be due to it being washed out with other normal engine vibrations. Rigid poly engine mounts, no crank driven fan.

    I have no idea how long this has been there. Afterwards noticing this, I ran qualifying with one of my best times ever and the race including standing start with no ill effects or change in the noise which is the same as it was when I first noticed it. Noise is the same with the engine cold or hot.

    Any ideas? I'm stumped.
    Jeremy Lucas
    FastTechLimited.com Race Technology, AIM, Race-Keeper, DriftBox/PerfomanceBox, Aplinestar, Schroth, etc...
    1991 SpecE30 #53
    2001 325iT

    #2
    Is the noise still present if you depress the clutch pedal? If so it could be from the transmission, and specifically the input shaft.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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      #3
      Originally posted by jlucas View Post
      No change if the clutch is in or out.
      Other ideas?
      Jeremy Lucas
      FastTechLimited.com Race Technology, AIM, Race-Keeper, DriftBox/PerfomanceBox, Aplinestar, Schroth, etc...
      1991 SpecE30 #53
      2001 325iT

      Comment


        #4
        Muffler bearings all the way
        sigpic"If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself." -Ferdinand Porsche
        The ugly car: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=209713

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          #5
          speed dependent...what else is speed dependent?

          Comment


            #6
            Ok so I think our knock noise was the alternator. The lower mounting bolts was not tight, so it's probably been that way all this season since we had everything off over winter to do the timing belt and probably toasted the internal bearing.

            With the belt removed the noise is gone. The crank pulley and water pump are also that belt so there is a small chance they are the culprit but when you spin the alternator by hand (off of the car) the vibration feels similar to to what could be felt in the body. I will check the WP and crank pulley out as well before the next race.
            Jeremy Lucas
            FastTechLimited.com Race Technology, AIM, Race-Keeper, DriftBox/PerfomanceBox, Aplinestar, Schroth, etc...
            1991 SpecE30 #53
            2001 325iT

            Comment


              #7
              Huh. Interesting.

              Maybe you could bench test the alternator as well.

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