I have a rebuilt 1955 Desoto 270 Super Red Ram hemi that has a chirping noise in the engine. Most prominent at idle and seems to calm down as the engine revs up. Does not change when I pull individual spark plug wires or back off the vacuum advance by pulling off the connection. Sounded like it was coming from the rear of the pan so I pulled the pan to inspect. No signs of rubbing and the oil pump is quiet as well. I did notice that the top of the oil pump drive shaft was worn about 1/8" down. May need to shave some of the bushing off so it seats lower on the pump shaft. This would also give the distributor shaft a little more room from the top. It may be pushing down on the drive gear causing the chirp.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

Did you inspect the flex plate and bolts?

 

...also, check your front and rear engine/transmission mounts. The flex plate to engine bolts on those Powerflites are lots of fun to work on. I made a custom on out of a couple of old Buffalo tools years ago.

 

I haven't yet. Had another suggestion to do that. I am running an A518 xmission with a Wieand adapter plate. The flex plate was new, but you never know.

 

Have an A518 hooked up. A new flex plate, but I think I may need to pull the engine and check it out.

 

What is the engine in?

 

1950 Dodge Wayfarer Sportabout. Has an Art Morrision front clip and am using Hot Heads Research motor mounts that tie into small clock Chevy water pump. I have unhooked all of the fan belts and the same noise is present. Thinking about unbolting the flex plate and running the engine to see if the noise is still there. I have close to 1/4" clearance between the flex plate and the new torque converter. Noise does not change much when driving.

 

I hope you aren't putting DeSoto parts in that engine. It's a Dodge engine. Totally different block. Back in the 50's, the Whale Hemi engines were different from each other Chrysler/Imperial, DeSoto and Dodge all had unique engines. I had a factory steel and aftermarket Edelbrock intakes and I sold the Edelbrock to Hot Heads several years ago. You have an advantage with the front end off. Get yourself a wooden dowel rod about 3 feet long and a 3 foot section of rubber fuel line hose. You can use both to listen and track down the noise.

BTW, good job on the street machine you're building. I don't know how many times the barn find '54 Dodge I had with the 241 Red Ram Hemi (same engine with a slightly different stroke and bore) would be at a car show and I'd have people ask me why I put a Dodge engine in a Chevy.

 

Found where the chirp was located. The oil slinger on the crankshaft in front of the timing gear was bowed too much and was rubbing on the Hot Head Research timing cover. Getting louder as it was bending the slinger as it rubbed. I bent the slinger back so it will not rub any longer.

Could not hear the rubbing using a stethoscope. Had to use a rubber hose placed in the breather opening to clearly determine where the noise was coming from.

 

It's been so many years since I had one of those apart, I forgot about that slinger. Be sure to post some photo's of your ride when you get the dog house back on it.