I just spent pretty much all my cash on...
a new head (ported and polished)
crane cams
crane valve springs
pt lifters
complete gasket set
new SS valves
complete ignition
tons more

and today after 9 months, i got my license and went to fire it up and it sounds like the worst rod knock ever. I have videos with sound if you want. I'm trying to figure out what a shop would charge to do a bottom end rebuild or if i should just try to sell it as is and get a newer talon or something else. I did all the previous work myself, how hard would it be to install rods and pistons?

its not hard to pull an engine, but making sure when you install the rod/main bearings that everything is in spec.

You may want to pull your valve cover and check to see if all your valves are still there. You may have dropped a valve like grain did.

I always double check the valve keepers when I get a head back from a machine shop. I have found a few keepers in the past that were not seated properly. And this has happened from some reputable machine shops that specialize in race engines.

Yah, I checked that last night, we looked everything over twice. It made this sound before the head rebuild, it sounded like bad lifters, so I replaced it all and it still sounds like that, my Talon expert said Rod knock. He's been right about everything so far. Is it even worth trying to sell the car? Its got almost everything brand new and upgraded expect the block, pistons and rods.

Hate to hear about your bad luck. I know it is very discouraging but I would try to fix it. You wont get much money for it like it is.

Pull the oil pan and see if one of the bearings spun. It is not that hard to do and only takes about 1.5hrs to take apart and put back together. On a side note, I had a friend who had what sounded like rod knock in his 99gs and it turned out to be carbon deposits.

If all you did was head/top end work, why do you think it is rod knock? I don't get it.

Originally posted by sike
If all you did was head/top end work, why do you think it is rod knock? I don't get it.

and if it made a bad noise before all the headwork, you should've found out that it wasn't the lifters or any drivetrain for that fact, and rebuilt the bottom end instead.

Did you start the car for the first time after 9 months? After sitting long priods of time its wise to prime the oil(turning engine over without actually starting it)If you started it right away oil may have not made it to the journals. This is just a possibilty.