Can anyone offer any ideas on this, please?
Background: I have rebuilt my 1977 Spitfire in the last 3 years. I didn't do
ANYTHING to the engine as it ran well when the car was in shambles, so I just
went with it. I drove it all last year for ~1000 miles.
First Clue of problem: All last year (and now) when car was warm, i.e. been on
highway or 45mph for a while, when shutting engine off and engine was cycling
slowly to off, it sounded like, for the last few turns of the engine, a really
RRR. RRR, RRR sound with each turn of the engine. Sort of sounded like your
teeth grinding, but more metallic of course. I put up with it and it still does
it.
LATE last year, and now. When cold, at certain LOW RPMs (like 1000-1500) a
rattle sound almost EXACTLY the same noise as the above described noise happens.
It will go away when RPMs are increased. But comes back at the same range of
low RPMs. The noise, also would cycle - last for 1/2 second, then off for maybe
3 seconds - then repeat. (Was not directly related to engine turns). When car
gets warm, this seems to go away (that is, after driving down a long street, and
then stopping, it didn't seem to do it anymore). Then, when the car shuts down,
I get the noise on the shutdown like above.
It really sounds like metal not having lubrication somewhere and sounds like its
coming directly from the engine. Could there be some lubricant needed somewhere
- not just oil in the engine? I just changed the oil before my first drive a
couple of days ago. It didn't have any effect. How about the mating between
two surfaces somewhere? Flywheel? I don't know anything much about inside the
engine/tranny (obviously).
I have NO clutch or shifting problems at all. I know the car is running too
rich and need to fix this ( I think - judging by the smell of the car). Did I
damage something by running too rich all last year?
HELP??
John (1977 Spit)
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