Trying to diagnose a rattle between the timing set and the SC. If I took the belt off of the SC and started the car and the rattle was still there then I would imagine it would be the timing set. Is my thinking correct here, and will the car run with that belt off?

Thanks for any insight!

 

The waterpump is run off the sc....
So it may run for a few moments...but will get hot fast...so be careful, you don't want to get it hot, and need a headgasket...
Try using a mechanics stechscope? Harbourfreight has them cheap....
A stick touching the area you think may be making the noise , and held tou your ear might also work to narrowdown the area...

 

I didnt think about the stethoscope, Ill try and swing by Harbor Freight. I have used a piece of heater hose in the same way to find bad lifters and exhaust leaks. I would imagine it would only need to run for a second, just long enough to hear the noise.

 

You can run it for just a little bit, but it will overheat after about a minute, and you will get a battery light cause the Alt won't be turning.

 

At long screw driver, with your ear on the handle, also works well to listen to noises but not as safe as using the stethoscope.