1944 LA making strange noise

[1939br]

Have a LA thats making a strange noise that has progressively been getting worse. It's a knocking noise that used to only happen occasionaly when revved way up. Now it happens when idled way down when shutting off. Hard to tell where coming from but pretty sure its in the engine somewhere. Any guidance would be appreciated!

 

[Hotflashjr]

An easy and cheap place to start looking is to pull the valve cover. You can see most of the valve train and see if a spring or valve broke.

 

[David G]

It is a flat head.

 

[Bob Collins]

Look for looseness in the front crank pulley.

 

[Mark-Ia]

It still has a Valve cover, it is on the side.

 

[Hotflashjr]

Yes, yes it does Mark!

 

[fixerupper]

I had a tractor make a knock like that when a wrist pin bushing gave up the ghost. First it only knocked at near idle, then at higher speeds. It always knocked when the engine was coasting down.

 

[David G]

I usually refer to the side covers as tappet covers and top ones as rocker arm covers.

 

[Hotflashjr]

I see your point on that because you can really only see the springs and tappets from the side cover and the top of the valve from under the head.

 

[Mike M]

Does yours have the belt pulley on it ? I took mine off because I didn't use it and it made a knocking noise.