Loud noise

[amc85eagle]

I am new to this (posting), but not new to AMC.  I have had my 1985 Eagle limited Wagon for 21 years this month! and not ready to put it to sleep yet. About two months ago a very loud noise started and I feared it was the engine (blown Rod!). I parked the eagle and am slowly trying to track where and what the noise could be. Nothing is loose underneath or above.  I have removed the valve cover (I-6, 258), and everything appears normal.  I have removed the starter and the flywheel cover and found some metal shavings and what looks like the bolt heads to the torque converter, flywheel bolts, are rubbing on something.  Any ideas?  the noise is louder on the passenger side and underneath.  Sometimes the noise is louder when step on gas and sometimes not there until i step on the gas. I am almost at 200000miles. could this be telling me to rebuild the engine?

[eaglefreek]

I hard to say what it is without being there. Mine started making a horrible noise and I thought it was a rod knock. I figured it's damged and tried to make it home. However the snout broke of the torque converter and in the process of me trying to make it home, it damaged the transmission pump.

[WoodenBirdOfPrey]

Are the bolts to the torque converter tight?  I don't see what they would be able to rub on unless they were starting to loosen themself. 

Mine started making a loud knocking/rattling sound from the same area and I too immediately thought it was a rod knock.  Everything is so close together down there it's hard to pinpoint the sound.  Once I got underneath and saw the flexplate I knew I found my problem.  Not just one crack, there's cracks all over it.  My sound is intermittent like yours, it seems like when it's cold it's quiet or barely noticable, but once it warms up and the metal expands it sounds terrible, like something is ready to let loose.  Sometimes putting it into gear makes it worse, sometimes putting it in park makes it worse, it just depends on the mood.

[carnuck]

I got a ding (something flying up from the road or whatever offroad) in the plate between the motor and trans on jeeps and eagles before and the converter bolts hammered on that tin plate. Also had the converter balloon and push the crankshaft forward, destroying the crank thrust washer.

[amc85eagle]

Thank you all for the comments and ideas.  I managed to get underneath the eagle and with some time i found the bolts from the transmission to the engine were loose and i actually had lost one!  I tightened the bolts and replaced the missing one and was completely    when i started it and it ran great, NO NOISE!  So I took the extra time to check ALL the bolts and nuts (can you imagine how many are underneath!).  thanks Again.  Maybe soon i will add photos of my precious eagle.

[Hawk258]

My parts eagle had that problem, I don't know if it is recommended or not, but you might hit it with a bit of loc-tite and maybe it won't happen again? I would want a second opinion on this before trying though, as I would hate to lead you down the wrong road. I am sure someone will smack me around if this is "NOT" a good idea.

[Jurjen]

No, loctite is a good idea and checking the flexplate for hairline cracks/loose bolts is too.
See my "cracked flexplate" thread.