Rattling sound at high RPM, can't figure it out.

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. I was out blasting in the stang tonight, pushing it to red line on several back roads, and every time I passed around 4500-5000 RPM, I could hear this rattling sound. I thought it was coming from my shifter, which is stock, then I thought it was my steering column. Anyway, it only happens at WOT in high rpms, and I can't find it. It sounds like a hollow ball being wacked against metal I guess. It's pretty loud and damned annoying when I am jamming along. Any help you can offer is great. Mods and timing in sig. I run 89 octane pump gas. Thanks!

 

[1BAD89GT]

Hey guys. I was out blasting in the stang tonight, pushing it to red line on several back roads, and every time I passed around 4500-5000 RPM, I could hear this rattling sound. I thought it was coming from my shifter, which is stock, then I thought it was my steering column. Anyway, it only happens at WOT in high rpms, and I can't find it. It sounds like a hollow ball being wacked against metal I guess. It's pretty loud and damned annoying when I am jamming along. Any help you can offer is great. Mods and timing in sig. I run 89 octane pump gas. Thanks!

Maybe exhaust rattling against the bottom of your car?? my buddys used to do that drove me nuts everytime i rode in it,I finally adjusted his exhaust for him one day when he stopped by before we went cruisin.And that cured it.

 

[astronut1885]

Don't think so, my pro chamber hangs just right and has the metal rods that keep it in place under the tranny mount.

 

[onefaststang]

detonation.

 

[Icepick]

i would think it is coming from somewhere in the engine. You typically get non-engine vibrations around 2500rpm (the drone zone) because thats when the exhaust causes the most vibration in the car. Maybe its even the engine mounts or tranny or driveshaft?

 

[bt15]

Clanging

Broken up bits of catalytic converters clanging around in the pipes, catalytic converter heat shields that have come loose are prime suspects. Also, O2 sensors that are loose or have disintegrated in the pipes are possibilities. Some less common sources include contact between headers and/or smog tubes and other components. Do you sense a "buzz" or vibe in the car concurrent with these noises? Have you any idea the general area the noise is coming from? If so, maybe we can help narrow it down a bit. Good luck!

 

[astronut1885]

I have an offroad H pipe, there's no cats. I don't think I am having detonation, becuase I can feel a vibration in the shifter when it happens. When I have the car in neutral, I can jiggle my shifter and get a tapping sound from it's base, and the sound is just like that only in rapid succession. I think it's about time for an aftermarket shifter...

 

[Icepick]

Maybe even a bad u joint. If it turns out that way get an aluminum d/s, $150-175 brand new and it includes both front and rear u joints, but since you feel a problem while still at idle i doubt it's that, but you mentioned it was bad at 5500rpms so who knows.

 

[astronut1885]

I want an aluminum drive shaft, but like I said, my shifter feels loose and I can jiggle the stick in it's mount and it sounds the same as the rattling, only slower. I think it is a work out old shifter.

 

[Icepick]

I love my Steeda Tri-ax, major improvement over the sloppy stocker.

 

[astronut1885]

Went driving hard again, it's definitely the shifter, no doubt about it. I think I am gonna get either a pro 5.0 or a tri ax.

 

[RiceBurner13]

my heat shield rattles when i floor it after about 4 grand, thats a common prlbme my friends have, but if its your shifter thats straight. I reccomend the hurst shifter as well, i drove a pro-5.0 and thought the hurst was harder to shift but quicker for some reaosn. good luck.