grinding noise from engine area, bearing maybe??

[bairjo]

Without looking at how hard it would be access, you could use a long piece of wood rod or something like this as a stethoscope. Hold one end against the various components and the other to your ear. You can do this with the easy ones and eliminate those. Unless you have a real stethoscope. However, You probably could not do this with the water pump due to the location though....just watch out for the moving belt etc.