Spindle can kiss my, and now a NEW prob...

[justaZcarguy]

That smiley face is fake because NOW that I have forgotten the spindle for another day, I fire up the motor, give it a little rev after it ran for a bit and NOW I can hear a tapping from the lifter area. Not your normal lifter noise but louder, wasn't there last time it ran, NOW it is.

Any advice?

And still, happy Easter. I think the bunny hates me.

[Royce]

Without listening it is hard to tell, it could be in the head(like a bent vavle) or bottom end (like a piston getting friendly with the head). Something may have worn or broke like the timing chain tensioner or a piston pin. But before I freak you out first look for something easy and obvious. Lets see... I have had a smog pump pulley crack(sounded like valve train problem), rod end crack (that was more of a thunk, thunk, thunk), I have heard of oil tubes breaking and rockers arms coming off. I think you are going to have to take the vavle cover off and see what is going on. Check timing chain condition and tension, valves, springs, rockers, cam. If something isn't obviously worn have someone turn the engine over manually with a wrench on the crank pulley and see if you can tell what is going wrong. Adjusting the valves could tell you a thing or to also. Next a leak down test may tell you if you have a problem with a particular cylinder. If everything passes visual inspection and you are sure it isn't something in the bottom end you could try a compression test to see if it reveals a problem cylinder.

Anyone else with some other ideas?

Hope it helps!

[justaZcarguy]

Thanks for the advice, it seems like valvetrain noise, it's weird, no noise one minute, then after startup it suddenly there. I will check the valve adjustment, I just know that valve adjustment doesn't get that bad instantly.

I gotta bad feeling about this one...

Thanks Royce, I appreciate it.

What a weekend...

[justaZcarguy]

It's starting to look like a bent valve. The bummer is that this motor never burned one drop of oil. If it ends up being a bent valve, what is the best route to take, just replace the bad valve and put 'er back together or what do you suggest? This is a budget deal and this is a definite set back...

Thanks to all, most of all Royce for putting up with this soap opera.

Have a good Monday...

[2ManyZs]

If it is just one bent valve you can replace just the one that is bad, but, ( don't ya hate when someone says that) you really need to thoroughly check for any other damage. Then try to figure out why this valve bent. Usually there is only one reason, like a piston slapping a valve. There has to be a reason why this happened, like did the keepers come off? Or did something else weird happen.

Before you pull the head do a compression check to be sure, it's not hard to do and it may save you some time and aggravation. If the compression is still good pull the valve cover and inspect the valvetrain, it could be something as simple as a lash pad retainer spring has broken and the lash pad is loose.

Sorry, but it could be a whole lot worse, you could be having these problems with a brand new car with alarge payment book attached. This is what we go through to have our "old cars".

[EScanlon]

Brian just a couple ideas.

Re: the engine noise.

Contact Gary (Luggnut73 on Zcar.com. Different handle here, but don't remember) He's also in the Forest Grove, Hillsboro area. He's pretty knowledgeable as far as engines, at least much more than I. Worst case post a message to Luggnut73 and he should answer. If you want to get a hold of him right away, send me a Private Message and I'll send you his e-mail address. (sorry don't have his permission to post it freely)

Re: the Spindle Pin.

My mechanic (told you I wasn't a grease monkey, but go ahead and ask me body / electrical) does his one of two ways. If the lower arm, strut, brake houseing can be removed from the car, then he uses a hydraulic press and a blow torch. If he can't then he uses a combination of the torch and a double nut on the end of one of the threaded ends and tries to get it to turn. That's the trick, once it turns you can get it to eventually slide out.

Good Luck

I'm in Vancouver Wa just across the Columbia. Gary (Luggnut73) is down on the Oregon Side down by your area. We've been talking with some of the other guys in the area about getting together and do a "mini" drive-in someplace. I'm currently up on stands getting the last of a few repairs done, so I'm hurrying. Let me know if you're interested

Enrique Scanlon

[justaZcarguy]

THANKS GUYS!!!!

And ofcourse I'm interested, in the event that I don't have to push the darn thing there. I'm giving it a few days and then will tackle it again...

I'll do the compression check, I pulled wires and did find a dead hole so that's not good. Let's hope for the best tho. I'll contact the guy you told me about and thanks for that lead!

I'll let you know what the results are..

Have a good one...