Odd sounds after minor front bump

[Stimpy]

Unfortunately I had the displeasure of going into the back of someone with my stag some months back.
However their car wasn't scratched - so much so that he preferred not to take it any further on his bendy plastic car. My iron car, on the other hand, had a bit of a fold in the front centre and had become cross eyed( how???)

So roll forward some months - I have a new rad and the body is straight again.

One curious thing has happened though - there is now a rhythmic whoosh noise. Initially I put it doing to being an old car which makes noises.

However - very recently I've stumbled across the thought that maybe the chain is making the noise.

Of course now I'm paranoid that the chain may be about to jump.

Does anyone know of a way of testing the chain, or what to listen for if the chain is having problems?
Could a frontal shove damage the runners or tensioners for the chain?

The current chain has only done a few thousand miles at most

Any help would be fantastic because the only safe option I can think of is...
1) Hiring a recovery driver
2) Getting the car to enginuity
3) Start the timer for costs of labour and don't hold breath

[Seaking]

Might be a help if you can get a good recording of the noise and upload so it can be heard.

[73 Mimosa]

Is the fan brushing the rad.

[Stimpy]

'Seaking' - not in the country for the moment :-)
'73 Mimosa' - I've had a damn good look and I'm sure theres good clearance.

I was thinking - to start with - removing the powered steering and alternator belts - that would rule them out and not harm anything.

I can see where this might be going - the 'just in case' option of fitting a new chain (it's already new!)

Enginuity are bloody good but they're costly - any recommendations to who else to 'outsource' this too or am I starting to panic too quickly?
My local 'we can fix any car' garage insists that the head gasket has blown each time I go to him so that's not an option!

[richardthestag]

if your alternator is still in the original location check bottom radiator hose and clamps are not touching the alternator fan.

ALSO check that the alternator pulley is not slipping on its fan. disconnect alternator belt and see if problem still occurs.

[Lingen]

Stimpy.
You say you have had a new radiator fitted. Was this because the fan hit it? If so, it may be that the viscous coupling was also damaged and is now seized, so the fan is always turning at engine speed.This makes a good whooshing sound as the revs pick up. Check to see if you can turn the fan.
If the coupling was replaced, as mine was recently, the ones currently available seem to "Slip" less, and also cause the fan to be noisy until they settle in.
Mike.

[dasadrew]

The times when I've had a "shush-shush-shush" type of noise were timing belt on a metal cover or water pump/alternator belt; i.e. rubber belts in both cases. Alternator belt diagnosis is easy - a few drops of water on the belt will change the noise.

Drew