Hi guys, OK don't laugh. I am learning how to work on my 1974-75.  455 Olds in my flat bottom. Husband passed from cancer last Dec & I feel like he would be proud. The thing was spewing oil everywhere. Used to be turn key. With the help of my neighbor I tore it all the way down with heads off. All new gaskets, new headers, bilge pump & switch. I bent water lines installed a puke tank. Found a guy from Craig's list to fabricate a plate for me.  Put back together & she purrs like a kitten. Had her up to 3500 rpm running great then started hearing ROD KNOCKING...Shut motor off immediately! I started it back up for a split second to see if froze. Nope it started. Didn't go thru. So before I take valve cover off in looking for tips & pointers to fix it myself.
Do I need to do both sides?
Its was just the drivers side.
Do I replace all rods & rockers?
Or just one rod?
What's the specs on tightening?
I have a million questions & am excited to learn.
Please help...
I have a million questions...

Hi guys, OK don't laugh.

First off. Laugh? I think it's awesome that your here.   

One thing you need to know about this site. There is no such thing as a dumb question. (unless you ask it twice LOL).

Now here goes. I will do my best.

I am learning how to work on my 1974-75.  455 Olds in my flat bottom. Husband passed from cancer last Dec & I feel like he would be proud.

I cannot tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I can't imagine.   

The thing was spewing oil everywhere. Used to be turn key. With the help of my neighbor I tore it all the way down with heads off. All new gaskets, new headers, bilge pump & switch. I bent water lines installed a puke tank.

How cool is that?

Found a guy from Craig's list to fabricate a plate for me.  Put back together & she purrs like a kitten. Had her up to 3500 rpm running great then started hearing ROD KNOCKING...Shut motor off immediately!

When you say rod, we talking deep dark ugly expensive thump? Or a rattle type top end noise?

I started it back up for a split second to see if froze. Nope it started. Didn't go thru. So before I take valve cover off in looking for tips & pointers to fix it myself.

I feel the problem is going to be in the bottom end, not the top. Like moboss says, likely needs to come out.

Do I need to do both sides?
Its was just the drivers side.
Do I replace all rods & rockers?
Or just one rod?
What's the specs on tightening?

This question, while intelligent, is hard to answer. I do not feel the problem will be in the valve train, I feel and fear it is much worse. We need some information to be able to help. What was the oil pressure, how much oil was in the pan, what did the knock sound like etc?

The Oldsmobile is a fairly robust engine, but not without it's fair share of issues. Unfortunately one of the weak links is the oiling system when it comes to a jet boat application.

I have a million questions & am excited to learn.

Please help...
I have a million questions...

I will only answer about three thousand. Your on your own for the rest... 

Good looking boat and welcome to SoCal Jetboats .com

GT

Rattle top end noise under valve cover. Will take off valve cover Monday and let ya know what I find.. Also was told I might have a clog in water line. At 3500 flying jetavator it started getting hot. Tried to adjust water @ ball valves at intake manifold with no luck. Saw no diff of water coming out of headers wide open or full closed.
Hnmmm will replace lines but hope that's all it is..

We have a place called "The Cove" here at Lake Elsinore. Its like being at the river on weekends. I pulled thru and all the guys were oggling and told me the motor sounded sweet. Dam..
Back to the drawing board. But I'm determined! More $$ lol

On lighter note;
I discovered DAWN dish soap lol

It seemed so but the temp gauge was reading 108...the whole time. When I shut it off it said 180. I could tell thou. I was back there while my friend drove trying to adjust water in headers. Had nothing. Opened both ball valves all way. Then closed. Nothing changed. But there was water to the headers cuz it was dripping by water lines...
I couldn't get it to cone out header pipe so I could see it..
Maybe clog in my line somewhere?
That's what a guy told me

Hmmm... Hard for me to diagnose the water issue, but the knocking noise is what has my attention... How long were you on the throttle before the knocking started?

^^^^^^this???

15 minutes at 3500rpm? Did you do any sharp turns just before the noise started?

IMHO an 8 quart pan is too small for a healthy Olds, they have serious oiling and drain back issues. If the engine needs to come out, and even if it doesn't, find a print or online copy of the HotBoat Olds engine build up from about 2005. Lots of good info about Olds engines and their inherent issues. The only dated info is regarding intake manifolds. All is true as written except the Crosswind dual plane is now the best inexpensive intake manifold for 5500/5700 RPM or less. We have made around 680 HP with that DUAL PLANE intake, (88 MPH in a Biesmeyer 18 1/2' jet.) The Performer RPM dual plane is just slightly better at the higher end of the range, mebbie 8-10 HP, but since a jet requires about 20 HP/MPH gain most don't think that for 100 bucks more is worth it for 1/2 MPH.
For lower HP engines, use the ARP conversion rocker studs and SB Ford stainless steel roller rocker arms, big cams and roller cams we drill and rethread the heads for 7/16" rocker studs.   TIMINATOR

No sharp turns..

I'm gonna install new water pump too..

Does it have a water pump?

Not all that unusual, just doubt it has one.

Normally the jet pump is the only water pump.

Good luck on it being the top end, that would be awesome. Thinking you were hearing the piston top touching the head.

Hope in totally wrong.

GT

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