High compression timing issue.

I had a 360 in a 79 5th Ave that sounded like it had lifter noise, ping or a cracked flex plate. It couldn't be ping because it occurred without load at low RPMs. After much poking around under valve covers, listening to exhaust through a hose and stethoscope I finally pulled the transmission and found half of the converter snout broken off inside the front pump. It all was still functioning well but making that darn noise.