my ford escort is making a loud knocking sound?

you never said petrol or diesel but in either case an easy way of telling where the fault lies is to start the engine get a long screw driver put it against the engine block making sure not to catch in any moving parts and u should be able to find out exactly where the knocking is coming from without knowing for sure your looking for a needle in a haystack
if u need help
bolt_nixon@hotmail.com

me
July 2007