'97 Monte Carlo

replace the o2 sensor(s)

have a coolant pressure test done. Have the radiator cores checked for blockage. Sometimes when an engine has sat for a period of time, rust and scale form in the water jackets of the engine. ON running ,this breaks away and blocks the cores of the radiator Other times the old motor tolerates a partially blocked radiator when a relative new motor needs all the cores free to maintain the temperature.

If the oil pump was bad, the noise would get worse as the engine heats up. You probably have worn out lifters.

The PO441 has to do with your HO2S 2 (Oxygen sensor). You need to check to make sure the wire is not off of the sensor and check the grounds to the Oxygen sensor. Could be a bad Oxygen Sensor. The other code has to do with your Evap system Purge solenoid circuit. Has to do with detecting an improper voltage level. Could be a shorted Purge solenoid.

Check firing order 1,3,5 in the back next to firewall 2,4,6 in front check coil packs. If o.k you could have burnt valves. As for the knocking If its a heavy kock and it happens all the time even at idle it could be the main bearings on the crankshaft.

The rev limiter won't allow it to rev above 4000 in park. Will it go above 4000 on the road. Does it miss at ldle or under a load.

you might check the crank and cam sensors

if you remove the battery and charge it than reinstall (make shore all lighting and non essentals are off) and if the car runs for awhile then the problem most likely is with the alternator

there is a coil pack for spark plug wires that could be arking to the engine(which you can see at night very well) or one of the sensors have gone bad , test the night visual of the coil pack after testing for spark at the spark plugs. so first you need to know if you have spark ,if you do then it may be one of the timming sensors

Most likely, this is your starter bendix going bad. Time for a new starter. Hope this helps. Good luck.