Classic/Antique Car Repair: Noisy Valve Train, dodge super bee, valve train

Question
Hello, I'm the owner of a 70' Dodge Super Bee and recently after an oil change I noticed a lot of chatter from underneath the valve cover. By mistake for a time a heavier weighted oil (50) was used in the car. I did notice that when I short out a particular spark plug the noise stops. Can you tell me what I may possibly be dealing with?

Answer
Without hearing the noise myself, I'm shooting in the dark here.  If you don't know the history of this car, and someone had tried to hide the problem by putting in very heavy oil, the problem is very likely a bad rod bearing.

If you know the history and the car has always sounded fine until recently, the heavy oil has nothing to do with the noise, but I don't know for sure what it is. Take the valve cover off that side and see what you can see visually.  The rockers don't change when you short out a plug, they do the same work regardless, so I don't think it is a rocker or valve problem, but check it before you tear the engine apart looking for a ghost.  

The fact that shorting out a spark plug makes the noise go away is very strong evidence that you have either a bad bearing or a broken piston.

Sorry - please don't shoot the messenger!

Dick