Hi, I've joined on behalf of my old man, who owns a 96 scorpio cosworth 2.9 V6. I've spent a few days on it trying to work out what the problem is...

It rattles from cold, and used to go when the engine warmed up. Now it does it all the time (the car has been sat for nearly a year now), however the engine still pulls like it should. We originally thought the hydraulic timing chain tensioner was at fault, but it seems not. Then I checked that the tappets were working as they should, which they are. I turned it over with the left block (as you look towards the windscreen) rocker cover off to make sure oil was being pumped to the top, which it is. The noise seems to come more from this block than the other though. I'm starting to wonder if it's the small end bearings maybe? But it's only done around 85k!

My dad seems intent on scrapping the car or selling it, as it has no MOT, and he won't hear of me buying a sierra or capri shell to put it into. Whatever happens with it, I really wanna know what this rattle is, as if its something simple I may persuade him to keep it. Such a shame as the car is about as undesirable as they come, but that engine is simply amazing!

Any help appreciated!