I think this is what happened:

"I can tell you what's wrong. I've seen it in three different cars now. It's very hard to figure out by the sound because it sounds like there is a lifter tapping or something the head. You have spun a rod bearing and there is enough bearing material wadded up in the rod journal that it is not knocking (yet). All of the clearance has moved up and now the piston is hitting the head. There is only head gasket thickness keeping the piston from hitting the head normally."

Joes posted that in another thread. That seems to make perfect sense.

My valves aren't hitting my piston heads I just had the head off and the pistons are pristine on the top.

Also yesterday after I made the video I heard a weird clanking sound deep down in the engine which definitely makes me think rod knock.

 

Do a search "another lifter test post" It's surprisingly easy to recognize a bad lifter. There's a piston/button roughly a 1/4"" in diameter underneath. It should not move. I had several i could push in and feel it return when released. Made a huge difference when I replaced mine with "good" ones. Much quieter.

 

Well its official I'm rebuilding my engine. I'm pretty sure I spun a bearing.

I already started the process of pulling the engine. I've been taking a lot of pictures, I'm kicking around the idea of doing a rebuild Journal.

 

This thread makes me dream of lifter noises

 

Got the engine out, mounted, and got the oil pan off!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1279314...7613819812690/

 

Sorry to hear you had to pull the motor. That's not RTV on the downpipe flange is it?

 

I actually don't know what that is, I had it at the muffler shop a few months ago getting my wideband bung put in and they took the cat off for some reason. They used that orange goop when they put it back on.

Its okay about the motor it was leaking from everywhere anyhow, was going to need it.

 

MAKE SURE THE GASKET FOR CAM TOWER IS NOT PLUGGING THE OIL PASSAGE TO FEED THE CAM TOWER.
CLIFTON

 

is that rod bearing particles on the oil pick-up screen ?

 

Seems like a possibility. I'll try to get a better pic when I get home today.

Good eye btw.

 

What is your AFR, could be engine knock

 

Amir, that definitely looks like rod bearing shrapnel on the oil pickup. Pull off the #2 rod bearing cap already!

 

Here are a few better pics of the particles:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1279314...7613819812690/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1279314...7613819812690/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1279314...7613819812690/

I might get to the bearings today, so I'll get to see. It doesn't look so good though.

 

I linked some other pics.

I will pull it off today heading home in two hours.

 

I'm guessing it's gonna look just like this...