Alright,

Here's the story so far:

I blew my motor in July. I found recently rebuilt one in another 88 SE (1500 miles on it) and bought the entire car to swap it with. I noticed that the front of the engine had just a little oil around the front main pulley, but didn't really think anything of it.

I transplanted motors, successfully, and ws driving my RX again. About 5 weeks later, I was driving across state with my gf and I noticed my oil pressure was very low, 30-40 psi at 65 mph. I was idling at 10-15 psi.

I stopped at the next gas station and was looking at my temp gauge more than the road until I got there, but never overheated. I opened the hood and oil was everywhere in the engine bay.

I found out the main eccentric bolt in the front pulley was loose and oil was spraying out of there, hitting the fan and the fan was throwing it all over the place.

I went back home and pulled the fan and bolt out. The brass washer wasn't on the bolt any longer and the o-ring on the end wasn't in the best of shape. So, I pulled the old bolt out of my original motor and put a new o-ring on it and re-installed the bolt with a lot of blue loctite.

I was recently informed that the torrington bearings may have slipped out of place when this happened and could cause damage in the future.

I was told to check that the main pulley is "floating". If it is, then the bearing and spacers are in place. If not, then I have trouble.

I tried to move the pulley by hand, not happening. BUT, if I push the clutch in, the pulley will move ahead a little and then moves back when the clutch is let out.

Is this the correct movement? Should I still be worried about my torrington bearing being destroyed?

 

It sounds like it's still okay.&nbsp Normally pulling out the front e-shaft bolt from an engine (not running) will not allow the spacer to slip.

If the e-shaft (i.e. pulley) has some play, then everything is fine.&nbsp If it's too tight, the spacer has slipped.



-Ted

 

Yeah.

The bolt was coming loose, but not falling out by any means, maybe a half turn loose. Just enough for oil to escape and coat my engine bay pretty much.

We pulled the bolt while the car was off and put it back in before starting it up.

The pulley moves toward the radiator and back a little bit. Not a whole lot, but enough to be easily noticed while just looking at the pulley when pushing the clutch pedal.

 

Yes, normal play is like a couple mm, which is exactly what you're getting.&nbsp If the spacer slipped, it would've jammed everything up, and you would have NO play at all.


-Ted

 

Actually, no. I did this on my first motor I ever built. When the torrington bearing gets crushed, it disintegrates and makes for a LOT of e-shaft slop. Pushing down on the clutch resulted in the front engine pulley going back and forth a few mm's. Normally you won't see it move at ALL - there is a tiny amount of endplay, but it's VERY tiny - you shouldn't see it move.

It's very possible your front bearing took one for the team. If so, I would go ahead and pull the motor and do the front cover job. Trust me, I've done at least 10 front cover jobs with the motor in the car, and in hindsight it's MUCH easier and faster to pull the sucker out and do it nice and relaxed in the garage.

Dale

 

Just as a final confirmation, check for metal flakes in the engine oil.

 

Well, this is immediately after reinstall...

If you're trying to check AFTER you ran the car after being damaged, there is nothing you can do anyways.


-Ted

 

I have been driving my car for about 3k miles since it happened. I have no choice, I have to drive it.

I will prolly tear it down in the near future.

I am planning to do an oil change this Friday and will check the engine oil when I do.

Thanks so far guys