KA24E noise and help diagnosing

[silencer.1]

I've noticed a noise for about a week now in the engine. It sounds something like a box of marbles rattling around and it seems to be coming from the front of the engine. It doesn't go away with an increase in throttle but it does lessen somewhat. Oil pressure was good; 13-14psi @ idle and 60psi @ 3000rpm when warm with linear increments in between.

I removed the valve cover and checked the timing chain. With my finger I can move it at least a 1/2" on the driver's side. The timing chain was supposedly replaced before I got the motor (I swapped this one in last fall when the last one threw the #3 rod out the side of the block).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Forgot to add that I did a compression test and got 165, 165, 166, 164 front to back.

[TrunkMonkey]

a half an inch is a lot of play for the timing chain. i'm willing to bet that's your culprit.

-demetrius

[n_bogie]

good to know im haveing the same problem. but i had not pulled the valvbe cover yet. it is a strange rattle almost like the heat sheild on man. was rattleing.