s200014

Your problem sounds exactly like what I am dealing with on my 02 s2000, except mine only has 200 miles on the rebuild. The videos you posted sound just like my car as well.
I tested the fuel injectors by unclipping the fuel injector connectors one at a time while it was cranked to see if the noise would stop. It didn't. I checked the harmonic balancer as well. I tried disconnecting the vtech solenoid, no luck. Checked under the valve cover and everything looks good. Pulled the oil pan & checked the rod bearings, no metal shavings in the oil and the bearings plastigaged within specs. I'm at a loss & don't want to crank it anymore as the knocking gets louder everytime I crank it.
I saw that someone said their oil squirter failed and the pistons messed up the cylinder wall. I am going to try and find a type of camera/video recorder to put down the spark plug holes and see if there is some damage that way.

liquid_helix136

After watching videos of piston slap it sounds almost identical. I'm thinking we'll have to pull the head off and take a look at the walls to see what's going on

chris_barry

Did you forget to install the lost motion springs?

liquid_helix136

They're in there and appear to be how they're supposed to be. We quickly checked the head today, didn't disassemble anything though so they were hard to see

Fierc3

Have you considered a digital inspection cam thru the sparkplug holes? Maybe a look inside the cylinder would help you diagnose.

Car Analogy

Not sure if this would make a noise, but what about the bolt that holds the upper cam gear in place? Its that allen head that is in the front of head, just below the valve cover.

Make sure that is torqued down.

_brandon

Dont think its a rod bearing. Sounds like a chain slapping. Might consider pulling the timing cover off and checking out the guides for the oil pump chain, seeing as you said it stripped out. Could of came off causing slappage?

Soul Coughing

Sounds like a scuffed bore.

davidc1

Well. I'm certainly glad we have some consensus about what's going on! lol

Can we take bets?

But seriously, even if I can't help much, good luck. And I still suggest a mechanics stethoscope...

s200014

I bought a inspection camera to look down my spark plug holes but you cant see the cylinder walls very well, what we did see was fine though & the pistons looked good. My brother has been working at a NAPA shop for 10 years & used a mechanic's stethoscope, i.e. 18in ratchet extension to listen to the engine & he couldn't really pinpoint anything. I'm scared to crank the car anymore cause the knocking gets louder every time you crank it.