Still rattles like a mutha!

I had an experience with this recently. I had a broken flywheel. you can test it buy starting the car it should start iknocking imeidiatly put the car in low gear and see if the knock stops if so check the flywheel. stock flywheels are prone to breakage when abused. just my thoughts

 

It would be kinda hard to believe you could make 8 full bore 1/4 mile passes with a spun bearing, without major problems. Check your flex plate for damage and check your harmonic balancer pulley for cracks. I've had one crack before, and it sounded like a bad rod bearing.

 

I drove my 200,000 mile old 215 engine 15 miles with a spun rod bearing, oil pressure fine, power still good, just noise like it was a prize fightger getting really beaten up, and it didn't fly apart.

 

It does seem odd that it survived 8 1/4 mile passes and didn't throw a rod or something. If it is a spun bearing maybe it is just to the point of being noticable. I wouldn't run it anymore because if it does throw a rod, you will really have a disaster on your hands! Many parts that would have been reusable would now be toast. Good luck and talk to Jim. I would hate to see you lunch the block and have to replace everything. Brian

 

Oh yes..... when my flex plate had a couple of hair line cracks in it, it resymbled a rod nock sound....... deffenatly something to look at.

 

I also have had the cracked flexplate noise I bought an aftermarket SFI (JW, I think). That was the END of THAT problem!:grin:

Also, sometimes the fuel pump arm can contact a double-row timing chain and make a similar "knock". Something to think about.

But knowing how weak those stock flex plates are, they suck :moonu: compared to the aftermarket!!

Hope that this helps your problem, and you won't have to deal with rod brg problems..

 

Well.... It was definately a rod knock. That is what it sounded like to me, my local mechanic and JW. Once it warms up a little it has a nasty double knock when revved.

I left the car at Jims new shop, which is much nicer than his garage BTW:grin: We made a laundry list for the car and it will emerge with a slightly hotter, iron head, level one engine. I'm not excited about throwing more money at the car but I am pretty psyched about what I will have when it is done.

Thanks for the replies guys.:TU:

 

IN by 10.. out by 4..

And you thought I was just pulling your leg when I said we would have it out this afternoon.

It was Mike's project today..

JW

 

Flexplate definately not broke..

I'm afraid it's a little more complex than that..

 

Ya, new shop is "just a little" bigger than the old place

We finally finished moving in on Monday.. and I have a dyno on Friday AM.. so this is the first night I have been home before Midnight since the middle of last week.

Whew.. glad we are moved in, and now we can get down to the work, and get caught up on a couple of small projects that are overdue..

JW

 

WOW!! Very nice shop!! Must be the Buicks!! Seeing the picture of Brent`s engine pulled reminds me that I forgot to cap off the water pump when I pulled my engine a few weeks ago.Glad I had some zorball..Duh... Good Luck Jim.Later,Tony.

 

Hey Jim I was just wondering who's car that is on the left side of the most recent picture you displayed. The rear end looks familiar.

 

Steve,

That's George Sweesy's Tube chassis GS, that you have seen many pictures of on the board here.

JW

 

I knew it was familiar.

Steve

 

I strongly agree with TXGS

I have had two broken flex plates in my Buicks and they sounded like anything from a bad lifter to a spun bearing, take a good look for cracks like TXGS said. :Comp:

 

Thanks but.... did you notice the close up picture of the flex plate above?

All of the bearings in the lower end were down to copper. The #3 rod bearing had spun. The engine appears to have had a marginally done rebuild in about 1989 judging by the date codes on the bearings. It will not be marginal when it comes back though.

Jim will be treating me to his hadiwork, a level one engine with ported Stage 1 heads, should be an easy 475hp+ engine. For now I am just patiently waiting while the master works:TU:

 

brent glad you found the problem and I am sure you will be happy with the results JW provides.

 

Brent,

Will Jim have engine back in the car for the Musclecar Shootout at BIR Sept 5-7? :Brow:

My brother Brian will have his '72 GS convert there, and I'll have my '69 GS California there as well. We're camping at the track, on the spectator side near the end of the 1/4, should arrive Thursday afternoon some time.

My 350 ran 14.15 last year in the July heat. I'm hoping to get an X-pipe installed before we leave. That combined with some cooler Sept temps may net me my first 13 sec timeslip!:beer

Stop by for a cold one if you're there!:beer

 

Hey Ken, Wouldn't that be nice! Not happenin though, I think I'll be really lucky if it is ready for the last street drag at BIR Oct 1st. That would be nice though, I would feel better stashing it for the winter with a few time slips under my belt:grin:

I'll probably be over there for one of the days, no idea which yet. I'll look you guys up! I think Jim is shooting to have Sweesy's car done, the wicked tube frame job, for the shootout. I want to see that one run too.

 

Jim, is this true?? It would be really cool to see this car back on the strip!! It would be even cooler to see Jim W and Mike B there in person, representing TSP and giving all the Buick racers personal tuning advice/help!! :grin: :grin:

We'd even hang a big TSP banner in our campsite for ya! (If we had one) :grin: :grin: