Hi folks. Im one of your occassional writers on this board or the last six months but I follow and enjoy it daily.
I had the "rattle" noise during warmup in my 99.5 since new. Ford replaced the motor a few weeks ago with no real hastle.
The new motor sounded ok for about 200 miles, but now the noise(knock?, piston slap?) is back only worse! I thought that that problem was solved on the later motors. Do any of you guys have any thoughts, information, on this. I know that some of you had a similar problem, but not twice. Its a good thing that my feeling for this truck is true love or I would divorce it (or shoot
it)

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What is the build date on your new engine?Mine was replaced just a week and a half ago also. I though I heard a little rattle today but wrote it off to paranoia.I too have about 300 miles on mine. My build date on the new engine is the same as the guys that bought the crate engines.(its late and I am lazy to look at the truck now) I hope you will post your results from the dealer here.
Tom

 

Does your engines only rattle at idle? Mine has a slight rattled at idle cold or hot but goes away when the rpm is raised. Scott

 

scott, thats exactly how my engine is and im #3700 ,one of the last engines and my motor is 8/04/99 truck 8/17/99

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1999.5 LIGHTNING
WHITE #3700
DOB:8/99
CD CHANGER
TOWING PKG
TONNEAU CONER {FACT.}
STOCK
13.88ET
98.86MPH
NE DRAGWAY N.H.
SOON TO HAVE A SUPERCHIP AND FILTER HOPE TO RUN 13.49 THEN I WILL LEAVE IT ALONE

98 YAMAHA BLASTER
97 HONDA 600F3 WHT/BLK
99 VW BUG GREEN
TAYMIA SVT LIGHTNING
WHITE R/C TRUCK
BBURAGO WHITE 1/18
(painted) LIGHTNING

USED CAR DEALER
SELF EMPLOYED
RAYMOND MACE
N.H.

 

I think its normal engine noise my Chevy Suburban does the same thing. Scott

 

Im checking on the build date. I assumed it was recent since it was installed in Nov., but it may be older. You would think that they would pay special attention on a replacemet. Maybe it is normal but they didnt hesitate to replace the first and it was considerably quieter than this one. They both ran great, and the new one feels even stronger , but it sounds like a bloody diesel, for about ten minutes, with an occassional rattle even when ideling warm. I hope this isnt another Ford coverup attempt like the cobra problem . Like I said before though, I really love this truck and will stick with it.
By the way BADASSSVT Im originally from Concord,NH but been in CA for the last 10 years. My family is still all in NH, MA s I get out there alot.
The L is now at Car Sounds the manufacturer of Moreflo exhaust systems. They re prototyping a
cat back to put on the market. Ill let everyone know how it comes out. I used their mufflers on my 97 Cobra. Sweet sound with no resonance on the Stang. Its a straight through design with no baffles
Sorry for the wordy post.

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Speaking of rattles ...

It doesnt get cold here in SA very often so I havent had a chance to listen for the sound that so many of you have reported during cold weather. I went up to Dallas for Xmas and it was slightly colder there. On starting the truck up after it sat outside all night, there was an under-hood clatter that went away as the truck warmed up. It wasnt nearly as loud as the superduty diesel but was louder than normal. I have a few questions:

1) Is the rattle that you speak of actually dangerous to the engine, or merely unpleasant sounding.

2) I had a 97 F-150 with the V6 and it always had a pronounced valve clatter (of course it bent a rod at 20K miles too).

3) I dont hear this sound when I'm at home (truck is garage-kept and SA doesnt go below 50 degrees very often anyhow) Should I be concerned?

Thanks,
Nathan

 

I never gave the "rattle" much thought. I wound up with what sounded like a valve tap or rod knock sound that made it sound like a 65 chevy with a bad lifter. Did yours wind up like that? The tag on my new engine is dated 11/17/99 with 461 in larger font. It has a slight "rattle at idle, most obvious when listening under it.

 

I had a 96 vortec motor 350. every morning it had a rattle when cold but went away to a slight tick when warm. i brought it in and chevy said every one was like that. they said the factory builds them loose now to handle stress and provide more power. it was always the same and never got worse.i beat it too.what scares me is that this supercharger puts alot of stress on this motor and im afraid as the warranty fades at 36k its going to be time for a new motor. my knocking iS only at idle. but it doesnt sound healthy compared to the chevy. the chevy rattled loud until oil got to it (about2 seconds) and then went to a slight tick. the lightning doesnt go right away it kinda just fades a little bit. YOU SPEND 30K AND YOU GOTTA WORRY ABOUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mine rattles only if I let off just at shifting points, you will here what sounds like piston slap. I bought 6yr 100000 mile warranty. If it fails its Fords problem. All have 3 yr 36,000 warranties, so I would just give it a while and see what becomes of the noise.

 

My original made noise when you let off at shift points. Then one day I started hearihg it on decel over the radio. It was then perminent.