Help - need engine advice, Fan Pulley has play in it Options

[tabwb]

So, I think it's time to go to the well and throw this dilemma out to the masses. I'll cut to the chase - my 1976 had a 1.7 engine in it when I bought the car. I knew that it wasn't the right engine so my nephew and I rebuilt a 2.0 engine he had picked up. We picked up the necessary rebuild kits from 914 rubber, auto atlanta, pelican, etc. - all new stuff on the inside. Block sent out, machined where applicable, etc. Dropped the 1.7, put in the 2.0 - all good so far. We put about 700 miles on the car with the 2.0 and recently, during a short drive, he heard a "funny" noise. Upon inspection I noticed that the "fan assembly" had some play in it - that is, the pulley itself was able to be wiggled about 1/8 to 1/4 inches fore to aft (horizontally). The pulley bolts are tight, no issue there...it's that the driveshaft (pulley to crank to flywheel) has a front-to-back play the distance noted. Now, I will drop the engine and trans...but what are the chances that engine-internals are damaged (bearings, pistons, rings, etc.)? I'd love to get away with just a few spacers on the back end, reset the flywheel and put it all back together and load it back in but am I just asking for trouble? Is it worth the risk or am I looking at another complete rebuild?

Any advise at all would be helpful and thanks in advance - you folks have saved me before.

WB