Ok, ready for some more help with my clacking engine..

[bloopbloob]

You just need to have your valvetrain in place an your starter working.

what do you mean by in place? heads are still on the car, but the rockers are all loose, only finger tightened. i'm guessing they have to be torqued to spec? i guess i will have to search how to do a compression test, but you crank the engine over? what about the dizzy and injectors being out? doesn't matter? i think a comp. test will be my last thing to check before i give up and have it towed somewhere....

oh - it has been suggested to me on another local forum that it may be a wrist pin... anyone with an opinion on that idea?

 

[BlooDReigN]

Yeah, just have your rocker arms in place and torqued down so that the valves open etc.

You should have the distributor in, althought it doesn't need to be in the right spot. It just needs to drive the oil pump.

 

[Black1987Stang]

Read what i said in post #29 and it will answer some of your questions.

I would have to agree with some of the others, bottom end's shot, just pull it and remove and replace what need be or do it the right way and upgrade everything while you're at it. Whether it be the rod, rod bearing, crank, wristpin, you will want to pull the motor.....it sucksss being under there changing bearings or something and also having oil and dirt dropping into your face.