Got this car dirt cheap as a side project and it's got a slight knock. Before I go dropping in a new motor and get it over with, can someone just assure me it's an actual rod knock and not valves? It doesn't do it on a cold start, and it seems to come and go. Doesn't stay persistent thruout the rpm band either. It'll just do it here and there. Had only one mechanic take a look so far and he says it sounds more up top. I never heard a rod knock in person before so i provided a video if anyone can help me out here.

98' SC400 VVTI

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/luval...98ad5.mp4.html

 

Sounds like an awful knock to me, definitely not valves. Valves make more of a tapping sound vs a hard knock like that.

 

Yep. Sounds like some terrible knock.

 

Figures. Still gonna open it up cause im curious as to what weant wrong but new motor time.

 

sounds like a gte swap coming