Crying in my pint!

[chrism]

Finally put some wheels back on the old girl saturday and took her out for a quick blast. The engine sounds sweet when cold after changing the chains and tensioners.

After about 10 mins I noticed a dull metallic noise comming from deep in the engine, have this real fear its a piston slapping (not sure if this is right or not.) The stange thing is it only happens when it gets warm and then its far more noticable when on tick over. The car pulls well no miss firing or anything so really gutted........

To cap it all off, then broke down as the alternator wasnt charging the battery at all because the new belt had stretched or the alternator had moved not sure yet. A good friend jump started me and i carefully ran it home.

Any suggestions about the noise???? I've resigned myself to the fact its going to be an engine out job, which does give me chance to respray the engine bay. How much would it cost for a donor engine if this really is the best way to go? Its a mk2 engine in there now (I think but how do I check?) certinally the radset up is mk2.

Thanks.

[AlanD]

imported post

Hi Chris,

i've got fed up with seals breaking down on me ETC, oil leak water leaks pipes all peishing, serves me right for buying an UNTOUCHED car, i have no choice but to have the engine stripped and renew it all. E J Ward do an exchange for 2500, fitted for about 3000 i think Mick said, so thats where i'm going, she is booked in for a total re-build. sorry to hear about your plight. oh and a place Newark engines charge 2200, but i dont know how good or bad they are



alan

[V Mad]

imported post

Unlikely to be piston slap as this would be more evident when cold. Before you commit to a new engine, conside the cam buckets (followers). If worrn badly these can rattle, mor so when the oil is hot and thinner. Check viscous coupling as well.

[marshman]

imported post

Does the noise sound like its coming from the front of the engine but not from the cam covers?

Is it camshaft speed or crankshaft speed i.e. one know per rev orone every two revs? Is it worse when accellerating or on the overrun? Have you got an oil pressure gauge fitted, if so what is the oil pressure like when hot?

Getting worse when hot is not piston slap IMHO but possibly big ends - getting louder under load would confirm this.

As this noise seems to have started after you have fitted new timing chains I would look at them first.

Remove the cam covers and start the engine - don't rev it 'cos oil will go everywhere. Have another listen and see if the noise isfrom deep in the timing coverat the front, whilst you are there check there is plenty of oil splasish off of both chains.

I have a similar knocking though it is worst when cold and tends to go when hot - sounds really bad like a big end has gone but having done over 500 miles with it I know its not. I suspect it could have something to do with timing chains and tensioners as you have just changed yours. Did you allow enough slack on the chain guides when you put it back together?

Don't panic just yet!

Roger

[chrism]

imported post

Thanks Alan, SWMBO would not be happy at that expense!!!But thanks for the suggestion.

[chrism]

imported post

Hi Vmad thanks. Ofcourse how do I know if the buckets are worn? Is there any visual inspection and how difficult is it to do? Regarding the V.C. I was told mine might be worn as there was only a little resistance when i spun it round on my finger, but it did move smoothly, again is there a check for this?



Many thanks!

[chrism]

imported post

Hi Marshman

ok the sound was there before I replaced the chains and tensioners, but just seems more noisey now, i would guess that is due to not having the noisey chains!!!

I havnt checked the oil pressure so not so sure on that. I did think that the left bank area was louder, as in tappety noise nearer the bulk head? so could be the buckets?? not sure.

having said all this the noise gets quieter when the engine is revved...

I dont know if this makes any difference but I do probably have too much oil in it just over the maximum line on the dip stick ?

[GDPR]

imported post

Could be a loose valve guide.......

[chrism]

imported post

Thanks Kryten. Off with the cam covers then!

[GDPR]

imported post

You need to remove the head and strip it to check for a dodgy guide Chris....

[chrism]

imported post

Ouch!

Still crying in the pint

[GDPR]

imported post

I think you may need another - it's being watered down.....

[chrism]

imported post

If your offerin!!:P

[chrism]

imported post

Just had an engineer friend look at it and has confirmed its the bearing on the main crankbut should be ok to run for the mo... so will be needing an engine to rebuild. anybody got one they are looking to sell?

[Guest]

imported post

Hi Chris, I think VMad meant does the viscous wobble, try and rock it forwards and backwards, also check that the crankshaft bolt is tight, these have been known to loosen off after front end work. If the bolt's loose or the bearing is shot it sounds exactly like a defunct engine. Martin.