Thread: Help identifying engine whine.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd83HhRwGuA

This video shows the engine whine I'm trying to diagnose. The noise is much louder in person than you can hear in the video. The longer you listen to the video, the more you can begin hearing the whining sound.

I tried a (very short) test, removing the accessory drive belt and the Whine continues even when alternator and water pump are not spinning. There are no other accessories.

I'm going to probe it with a stethoscope today and see if I can narrow down the location. It was suggested on another forum to unbolt the torque converter and push it back so I can isolate the noise to engine or trans, so I'm going to try that today.

Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

First, welcome to CHR.
Your noise sounds like the transmission pump or torque converter to me. If you have a good independent tranny shop near by they will likely be able to tell you quickly, and maybe just from the video you posted. Just my thoughts, early and on the first cup of coffee.

do you have chain or gear drive timing gears for camshaft???sounds like a cheap gear drive and you are focused on front portion of engine-------

To me, the sound seemed like it was coming from the front, but it is really hard to tell.
I bought this car from someone else who bought the car, builder is unknown.
Haven't had it very long.
The only info I got from seller was that it was supposed to be a 350 crate engine.
The engine has no casting number or stamped numbers, but it has 333882 heads on it.

Jerry hit it on the head. That sure sounds like a gear drive to me and if it were mine I'd tear it down and install a true double roller timing set.

i`m with Jerry .. sounds to me like a gear drive .. some guys do that on purpose just for the noise .. it can sound like a blower if your engine is covered .. i wish you had blipped the throttle a time or two ..

Engine is an older build.
I did some stethoscope probing on it today, and the noise seems the very loudest at the bell housing.
So maybe it is the transmission pump.
I'm going to try disconnecting the torque converter and pushing it back as suggested, just didn't get to that today.

The alternator is where I originally assumed the whine was from. I already replaced the alternator.
Then I started trying to diagnose it.

I did a short test run with the accessory belt removed, so neither the alternator or water pump was spinning and it still had the whine.

I was hoping it was just timing gears, but its starting to look like tranny pump.

I took off the cover and unbolted the torque converter from the engine, and pushed it back. Started the engine and the whine is still there, just as loud.

Did some probing with the tranny disconnected and now the sound seems loudest at the timing gear cover. So for now I'm going to chalk it up to loud timing gears and just driver it till I either get used to it or it starts getting worse.

I'm just a little too OCD for strange engine noises.

The left knob on the radio can always fix those noises.. 8-)

The only thing about an engine that is a steady sound ( not an intermitten click, knock, tap ) is a GEAR related sound that comes from improper contact angle or clearances of mesh lines---------it is a cam gear drive issue and either live with it or change to a chain set up-------In that car it would be a snap to replace it