Another oddity:

If I am in the higher gear and try to accelerate up any slight incline, it knocks. But if I then just punch the pedal to full throttle, it (seemingly) stops knocking. My only guess to this is that there is more fuel getting into the combustion chamber= cooler temps.

87' Raider: off road package, rebuilt engine with (new) stock tires and alloy wheels but otherwise original.