I had the exact problem years ago with my Morris Minor. 3 bearing crank
that cracked between the final main and the output shaft. Hell of a
noise. I actually drove it home.
I believe the problem stemmed (apart from my merciless driving) from
the fact that the previous owner had run the engine on 2 or 3 cylinders
for a long time (valves shot/ needed to get to the store etc).
I may have a series 4 crank - need to look. Are they the same? Where
are you located?
John
You wrote:
>
>
>As I was driving to a rally last Saturday in my S3 it made a really
bad =
>noise. the noise was a deep clunking noise that got considerably
better =
>when the clutch was engaged. I stopped immediately and called the tow
=
>truck. being an eternal optimist(I have to be with three MGs and an =
>Alpine) I thought it was probably the clutch coming apart or maybe a =
>transmission problem. When I got a chance to inspect it when I got
home =
>however it sounded more like I had thrown a rod so I pulled off the
oil =
>pan and looked around. at first I didn't see anything but then I
spied =
>some metal bits around the no. 4 crank journal. I pulled off the
bearing =
>cap expecting to see a spun bearing but there was only minor scoring
on =
>the bearing surface. I then looked up at the journal and was shocked
at =
>what I saw. there was a crack all the way through the crank.
apparently =
>the crack was jagged enough that the crank was operating as a unit so
=
>the engine would still run. =20
> oh well. enough babble. The reason for my post, other than to =
>share my sob story with some sympathetic souls,(my wife just doesn't
get =
>it) is that I now find my self in need of a 1600 crankshaft. If any
one =
>has one would you please let me know how much it would cost me and
what =
>kind of shape it is in.
> Also while I have this motor apart what would be some engine mods
=
>that I could do to it to give me a little more horsepower. this car is
a =
>driver so I don't want to do anything too radical, just give it a
little =
>more pep. The car seems to be pretty much stock except for it having
the =
>twin sidedraft stombergs of the later series cars.
> any advice on pitfalls to look out for would also be appreciated
as =
>I have only had the car a couple of months and will be trying to make
=
>sure everything is up to spec. inside.
>
>
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