engine noises

New engines aren’t cheap. And rebuilds can be costly and downright time-consuming. It’s no wonder unfamiliar sounds from our engine compartments can cause immediate concern. Seriously, anything except “vroom,” “roar,” and perhaps the whine of a supercharger are completely unacceptable. The key is figuring out the source of odd-ball sounds, so you can address any potential problems

Q: I built a 350 engine using parts from Summit Racing. At about 3,000 miles the engine would make a clacking noise at startup, but only when the engine hadn’t been run in a while. When the oil pressure came up (60-70 pounds), the noise stopped in a second or two. At about 3,500-3,800 miles, I