Clicking,rattling,tapping?

[Louiseven]

My 1990 GW sat for for 7 years until this past January. I can hear a fairly loud tapping or rattling sound coming from somewhere around the transmission bell housing area. At least that's where it seems to be coming from. I can hear it in park at idle. Not quite at engine rpm but pretty close. It does speed up with the engine under power. I can hear even more when at an incline. Hear it less declining or going down hill. Even quiter in reverse hear.
I put a new starter on back in January, new plugs and wires,PVC valve,air and fuel filters. Oil change and drivers side exhaust manifold gasket, new catalytic converter. Alternator was making a loud clicking noise too so it was replaced along with all new belts. Carb adjusted and vacuum hoses checked and replaced as needed. The Wagon drives great, no smoke has power starts up great. Trans shifts great. Just can't figure out this noise. Oh I also moved the switch over to 4wd and it worked perfectly.

[joe]

If you're pretty sure the noise is coming from the bell area I'd pull the inspection cover off and check for the flexplate bolts coming loose. Check for cracks while you're in there too.

[serehill]

Yeah I'm with Joe

Split flywheel loose bolts wrong bolts hitting block.

Little bit of a stretch the crank has slack & is moving back & forth letting the bolts on the flywheel hit.
Also start it up & watch the flywheel to see if it is straight. Chances 1 out of 10 if it wasn't straight you would have high rpm vibration though. A split flywheel has the same symptoms. It can also be the crankshaft bolts are loose also. Several possibilities to these symptoms. It could be other things this is most likely.

[Carnuck]

ballooning torque converter can push it forward till the bolts hit too. I had a rock ding the cover on mine and it sounded like a rod knocking!

Oh, make sure the starter didn't come loose.

[bigwoody]

mine was making an odd noise around there also. It seems when I put the inspection plate on, I didn't notice it was bent a little. It was tickling the end of the crankshaft. just a thought.

[Louiseven]

I replaced the starter last week the bendix was clattering. Still have the same noise as described above. Going to check the inspection plate tomorrow.

[Louiseven]

Flywheel/flex plate seems to be straight. From the inspection plate I could not see if there were any cracks. Probably doing it wrong.
It sounds like something is loose. But I can't find it!

[babywag]

I use a 3'-4' length of heater hose to find noises.
One end to your ear, the other to explore for the noise source.

[bigwoody]

That's how I traced my rattle/tapping noise to my bell housing.
The noise almost sounded like a lifter tapping.
Till I got under her with my noise finder hose. It led me right to the problem.

[joe]

The hose thing works well for finding exh leaks but for metal to metal clunks bangs etc a solid medium transfers the sound better. A piece of dowel rod with the ear end rounded for comfort or about 3 ft of a broom handle.

[Louiseven]

I have been using the long screw driver method or crowbar. At work today will try again tomorrow. My jeep is actually at a shop today having the carb rebuilt. I decided against doing it myself.

[Louiseven]

Okay now it sound like it may coming from oil pan!
I also noticed the Oil dip stick tube is loose. Not sure if this could be related.

[serehill]

I agree 100%

[Louiseven]

I'm not in a panic yet. I drove it around today and it drives great. Plenty of power, idles great,no smoke.