Thread: What sounded like a death knock, wasn't the case

Yesterday morning I started the old girl up D2 and it sounded like a death knock. I was as if all the tappets (V8) were rattling loudly.
I checked the oil level and all was ok. Started it up again and the clanging continued, it was coming from below. First thoughts were exhaust leak at flange or big end bearings. Then the fear of the flex plate on the Auto had given up the ghost after replacing it and doing transmission work recently.
But I followed every procedure to the letter so was getting worried.
Today up on the ramps I pulled the inspection plate off on the bell housing and shown a light into it, all was as normal.
I started it up and climbed underneath again and the sound of a death knock was very loud down around the bell housing area.

So stuck the old stethoscope to the trans and it was quiet, then stuck it onto the left hand side cat and BINGO!!!

This is where all the racket was coming from.
I was suprised on how much sound transmitted from it and it sounded like it was coming from elsewhere.
A couple of taps with a hammer quietened it down a little bit.
I knew previously that the left hand side cat must have got hot at some stage. So obviously it did have internal damage.

A self drilling 50mm roofing screw (or 2) -remove the rubber washer first- also works in the short term to hold "things" in place...