I posted several weeks ago about an engine knoch that occured after stopping for gas and then having trouble getting the car to restart and when it did it had an engine knock....Well we pulled all of the belts and then the transmission to isolate the sound.. It seems to be more of a loud tick coming from the front of the engine behind the front cover. This is not a detonation knock but something inside of the engine that changes speed with the rpm's and gets quieter as the engine revs (problably not quieter but not as noticable).

This car has been driven very resonably, is a totaly stock 94 with 49,000 miles, has been carefully maintained and has presented no problems (water pump replacement at 43,000). Most input has been that it probaly isn't the crank bearing but no idea of what it could be. Car starts and runs just as always with the exception of the noise.

I am not against putting in a new engine if it needs it but would like to be sure before I committ to the bucks. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Gribblet

 

do you know where exactly the knock is coming from??

do a compression test on both rotors to eliminate any possible "paranoid" engine break down...

 

Maybe the front chain is breaking?

 

I didn't know there was a front chain.

Can the front cover be removed without causing problems with the engine?

 

Yes

 

/\ yea could be the oil pump chain/assembly making noise. you are sure it is coming from the cover. can you feel it on the cover? have you tried turning it over by hand to see if you can hear or feel anything abnormal?

 

front thrust bearing failure ( inside the front cover) causing too much end-play therefore the ignition pickups hit the front main drive pulley causing the " ticking" sound.

 

^^ Good guess!! I was going to warn about those bearings when removimg the front cover. there is a proper way to do it and NOT kill those bearings. But the easiest way is to yank the engine and turn it uprite. ( flywheel down)

To see if the end play is way to much .just grab the front pulley with the belts off and try to push it back and forth ( front to rear) You should be able to just feel and hear a little clunk for the endplay. If there is any thing more than a little it is too much. I can look up the exact endplay if you have a dial indicator to use to measure it.
Look at the timing ring backside to see if contact has been made.

Is your airpump still operating properly? It has a clutch that likes to go bad every now and then That is more of a squeaky wheel sound. But it does shut off after around 3200 rpm. So it falls into the pattern of higher rpm= less noise

 

Thanks for the responses. We will proceed and probably be back with other questions.
I have heard on this forum about some videos for engine rebuilds and for removing and reinstalling the engine. Could someone direct me to where they can be purchased.

Thanks, Gribblet

 

Rotary aviation and Atkins Rotary have them.