So we did this motor swap during the fall, the car was flooding badly, we got a fuel cut switch in and seemed to be making progress when we got the motor running a few times. It seemed to be suffering from either low compression or a vac leak cuz it would die under about 2k.

Anyway, I didn't see this car (it wasn't mine) for about a month. Then, not long b4 xmas, the owner goes to start it for me and I stick my head under the hood and listen.

The engine spins and there's a metallic thump every 3 or 4 seconds. She'd told me about it but I didn't know what to make of it. I still didn't know as I stood there. I've never seen or heard mention of this kind of thing before on a rotary.

And it's not a gentle or mild metallic thump. There is a naaasty WHACK occurring that can be heard from inside the car.

What is making that noise? Is it what I think it is? Is the motor stewed?

 

sounds as if the needle bearing and droped and gone to ****, you can save the motor but you must pull the front cover and replace the needle bearings, it often requires pulling the engine to measure end play.

 

I'm following up on this - thank you for the guidance!


And it looks like you've been through a similar headache (ripping apart the front of the motor) yourself.

 

yep, lemme know if this helped

 

You can measure the end play in-car, just get a good gauge...

 

your thinking about hub protrusion, you must measure the side with the flywheel.