Bob Grunau <grunau.garage@sympatico.ca> wrote:
I need some advice on PA-0531. The car is making a "clanking" noise when the
starter is engaged. .... Any suggestions as
to what the noise might be? I fear a loose flywheel or crankshaft flange as
the last person to work on the engine rebuild is a known "under-tightener"
of nuts and bolts. Help!!
...Bob Grunau
Dear Bob,
I can't give you specific suggestions on the clanking noise, but if the
previous build was done by a known "under-tightener" I would pull all critical
components of the car apart, check to make sure fasteners are the right size,
grade, and in good condition, and re assemble. I have seen too many scary set
ups on these cars due mainly to incompetent backyard mechanics to trust that
everything is ok. Some examples include track rod ends with no split pins
holding the threaded cups, steering worm bearings missing in steering boxes,
1/4" grade 3 hardware store bolts with flat washers for U-Joint couplings
(where 5/16" should have been used), rod bolts with brass washers under the
nuts and no split pins (which I believe contributed to the large hole in the
side of the block), brake cables with less than 1/2 the original inner wire
strands intact, the list goes on. This is does not touch the issues of cracks
in critical pieces such as steering drop arms and spindles.
I had a friend who bought a "fully restored" TF at a premium price. He was
quite dismayed when the steering wheel came off in his hands while driving (the
nut attaching the steering wheel to the steering column was an incorrect size
and thread), and following that he lost steering again when all the bolts in
the coupling between the steering column and rack fell out-again this was an
undersized hardware store grade fastener without the split pins and castellated
nuts per original. Finally he agreed to let us look over the car to see what
else was likely to fall off.
The gearbox supports the rear of the engine on a PA, so unlike a J2 where you
can pull the gearbox without touching the engine you'll need to support the
bottom of the engine to pull the gearbox. Do a search of the archives for more
explanation of the gear box cross tube removal on the PA.
With the cold weather coming to your area this would be a good time to do a
little disassembly of the PA to check on critical components.
Bill Putnam
J 3488
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