Ron,
I had a similar noise in my 1979 Spitfire. The engine rumbled at idle, but
the noise went away when there was a load on the engine. Other than the
noise the car ran fine. I initially thought it was the timing chain, but
when the timing chain cover was removed, I found a loose timing gear. The
DPO had not used the appropriate locking devices and the bolts were all
loose and worn oblong in shape. Have a look soon, if the bolts on the gear
shear you could have a major problem on your hands.
John Reynolds
----------
> From: Ron Roach <rroach@intouch.bc.ca>
> To: Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com
> Cc: spitfires <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: Strange Engine Noise
> Date: Friday, April 09, 1999 2:02 PM
>
>
> John, My '78 spit has a strange rattle at idle that's intermitent, but
goes
> away after revs are increased. It sounds like transmission bearings,
maybe
> the throwout bearing, although when the clutch is depressed, it's still
> there. I've been driving the car for a year without any other problems
so
> I'm going to keep driving it until something becomes more noticeable.
Maybe
> it's camshaft wear?
> good luck,
> ron
> '78 spit
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com <Jjcousins@ra.rockwell.com>
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 8:03 AM
> Subject: Strange Engine Noise
>
>
> >
> >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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