Sounds like some sort of laser problem....
Also.....First thing I would rec... is to junk the no-solder mod and the Swap Magic CD (which is really just a Gameshark knockoff) and get yourself a "Direct Boot" chip, such as the Messiah, Magic 2, or Apple....
The whirring and clunking you refer to: I would guess and say that it is disc spinning up and laser trying to focus on the disc....
Try cleaning the PS2 with a cd cleaning disc...The ones with the little brushes on it....See if that helps... If not, prepare to get another laser or another PS2...
