So I got this BBC 454 roller rockers mild cam high compression and when I started playing with the timing I was retartding the distributer and this clanky sound came from no where I brought the timing back up and it was more noticeable the sound so we started digging and it sounded like maybe the torque converter was going bad so we disconnected the transmission completely from the engine and it still is making that noise, when we retard the timing it almost sounds like it goes away and as soon as we bump it up it comes back! It almost sounds as if it were a Diesel engine. Any ideas?

 

Kinda hard to figure it out with limited info, could be number of things. Check to see if something is loose inside distributor.

 

Well I had some time to play with it. I got the car timed pretty well. It's still making the noise the motor does have high compression according to what the guy I bought it from told me and said I have to run high octane. I'm
Using pump gas 91 cause that's the beauty of California :/. Distributor is good and clamped down good! We drained the oil and strained it no metal in the pan or oil. Actually it was probably the Cleanest oil ive ever seen. Looked at the crank and everything look good from what I can see. Rocker arms and valves look great.

 

If you get a chance, maybe you could do a video so we can hear the noise?!

 

[ATTACH]trim.AE97DF41-0393-4262-B9C0-531EC955721D.MOV[/ATTACH] here is a video I recorded early this week.

 

Have you done a compression test yourself??? I would actually do a compression check on all cylinders to start with.
I took the word of the previous owner of my car when he said the engine was a 350...LOL I found out when I found the number under the alternator bracket that I actually had a 327!!!

 

I actually did do a compression test! Was like 12:1!