Doug,
Aside from structural concerns, the condition of the engine thrust washers
can be fairly easily revealed. This, as well as cam bearings (or lack thereof)
are two design faults of the Spit/TR-6 engine family.
Push the plastic engine cooling fan rearward as hard as humanly possible.
Then have a lovely assistant lightly depress the clutch pedal whilst you
hold on to the fan/pulley assembly. The play in the thrust washers is revealed
by the loudness of the 'clunk' that you hear, and also by the feeling as the
crank moves forward. Max. endfloat for the crank is around 13 thou. I believe.
This is less than the thickness of your fingernail.
A loose crank is indicative of a weak lower end, and can provide information
long before any audible Rod Knocking is heard.
Greg Meboe MEBOE@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu
Dept of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Washington State University Pullman, Wash.
'67 Spit-6 (Daily) '74 TR-6 (In Progress)
|