all kinds of racket up top!

[OBX FSJ]

I have a rebuilt (ATK) 360 with the performer package. Last night while coming back from wheeling my Jeep started to miss badly and sound awful with hard throttleing. Then when I stopped to see Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley? There is a hard knock in the top end. I came back to my Jeep about 2 hours later and started it and the noise was gone. To this point I was afraid I had dropped a rod, or lost a rocker, or something to that extent. Now, it came back gradually as I limped it home, and was at full protest again when I got home. Today I have pulled the valve covers, and found all looking good. I have a exhaust leak at the head which requires removing the head to fix, so I have an excuse now. Only I cannot figure out what the hell? Could I have spun a cam bearing and it only acts up hot? And, would a spun bearing make a miss? There is a hot smell like clutch only different. How can I check my cam bearings without pulling cam, I loathe that timing cover. I need some opinions here.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

If it was a spun cam bearing it would have quit by now, don't take long!!! It sounds to me your lifters are colapsing.. how is your oil presure when it starts to run bad and the noises begin. When you shut it off will it restart, when hot? I highly doubt it is a spun bearing though
Good Luck

[gsmikie]

if the engine is still under warrenty call atk before you do anything they might just replace the engine iv done alot of replacments for them i even had a lady come in my shop with a caravan she had bought had it for 4 months 2.6 had a cracked head and no oil pressure gave her a qoute she said ok i crawled under and saw the atk sticker on the other side of the block i acalled her to see if she had any paper work for the motor she said no i called atk they said the engine was 3 years old and that there was still 2 years left on the warrenty and when i got the engine out to call them i did they send a replacement motor paid all labor ......i like atk not cheap but great to deal with and they stand behind their stuff ive seen them do alot of warrenty replacements on vw here in the desert......give them a call

[OBX FSJ]

not warranty because:
1. i am not the original buyer
2. i replaced major components.

I too really like the ATK name. It played alot into my decision to buy this cherokee.

As for my oil pressure letting lifters collapse. How low would it have to go? I had an 84 with the good old worn out timing cover, oil pump problem. She made maybe 2 pounds of oil when hot. Hell, I ran like that for 6 months till I had the money. Always hoped something major would go to justify some cool upgrades ( syndrom known to many married with children motorheads). That old wagoneer did alot of wacky crap, but, never this. Currently I have everything torn down to get some old exhaust bolts extracted from the passenger side head. You know behind the heater core of course. I am at a loss. I don't seem to be finding any components which have failed. But, if you would have been there you would have thought "God, I'm glad that's not mine" Maybe it was just some gremlin in my ignition that dropped a cylinder? hell, I don't know. Can that ignition module be my huckleberry?

[Stolen76]

Before you go tossing in lifters, check your fuel pump. I know a guy that went through 3 sets of lifters in a new rebuild trying to stop what sounded like lifter knock and turned out to be the arm on the fuel pump. Low fuel pressure was starving the motor, so it ran like it had collapsed lifters. We still hassle him over that one, he's been turning wrenches for over 30 years !