SR20det Rattle/Clacking *Video*

[RoYaL FLuSH]

Engine is a '91 s13 SR20det redtop. I recently discovered an intermittent rattling/clacking sound coming from under the valve cover towards the front of the engine. There is a more obvious rattle on start up which immediately goes away but the sound reappears after the engine has already warmed up. It does not seem to be RPM dependant and the car still runs fine with no loss of performance.

The rattle on start up is easily heard from inside the car but the rattle when the engine is warm is more faint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAavH3wOKBM

When I first heard the sound I assumed it was timing chain related... but when I heard sound clips of supposed timing chain rattles it sounded different... what do you think?

[RoYaL FLuSH]

ok, i managed to pin point exactly where the sound was coming from. it was not coming from under the valve cover, but from the power steering... possibly the bearing. putting a stethoscope to the pulley confirmed this.