ka24e rattling/knocking...

[xspeedrushx]

First off, if you look at my profile i appear to be a noob. I'm not actually, i just make good use of the search button and the rest of this site (thank you by the way). The car is a 1990 240sx with a ka24e, 5-speed. I bought the car for $500 with the engine in pieces. The block was cleaned up inside and out, new pistons (stock specs, i didn't buy them the previous owner did), i bought a complete gasket kit, new oil pump, all new bearings, water pump, and a head with 60,000 miles (long story short, the old head was not repairable).

Now, the issue. The car seems to run pretty good, aside from the noisy lifters, however that is not really my concern, this seems to be common for this engine. My concern is a noise that i first noticed after taking it for a test run. When I accelerate there is not any noise (aside from the exhaust ), when i let off and engine brake i don't hear it. The sound is when there is very little load on the engine, such as at cruising speed. Its hard to explain. If i hold the throttle steady anywhere between 1500-3500rpm (probably higher too but i don't wanna push it). It kind of sounds like a rod knock like sound, or somthing rattling. The car vibrates when it does this as well. At first i was thinking that i missed somthng when i put the engine together (measurments, plasti-gauge, or somthin), but if i did i would think my oil pressure would be lower. Its at around 10-11psi at idle and 50-60 at 3k.Sorry for writing the novel, i just want to make sure i have given enough info. Thank you in advance.

[mexicanracer03]

did you change the hydrolic tentioner on the chain ??

[Vegascorbin]

If you did change it, did you remember to pull the little pin that holds the tensoner back while installing?

[xspeedrushx]

I figured it out...I didn't plasti-gauge the rod bearings. Good thing i didn't drive far. The bearings that the previous owner had included in my box of parts were standard...they sould have been .003 oversized. I update you all when I get the new bearings in to see if that was my only problem.Lesson learned, dont trust anybody, double check everything...I should have known better.