I've got a rather loud rapping noise from my 4-banger in a new 914 I bought. It sounds almost like the worst rod knock you've ever heard. So loud that you can't even talk over it at 1200Rpm.

It generally doesn't make the noise at low idle.

So asuming I had an internal engine problem (as everything looked good under the valve covers) I began pulling the motor.

I descovered that the front mount that attached to the case and the cross support brace was VERY loose on the case. At least one of the 4 bolts is missing, that I can see, and the others are at least 1/2" out of the case! With the engine removed I can swing the cross brace about 2" at the ends.



I am wondering if anyone knows if the case bracket "could" collide with the back of the fan housing?


I will post my findings when I get the shouding and fan assembly off.

Thanks
-JR-

I know one horrible loud noise is when you suck a valve.

I had a valve spring break, that's loud.
Happened in my driveway, so I was able to save the motor.

KT

I'm sure the brackets could contact the fan housing.

That was my first thought from the topic title. Reminded me of when I had a engine mount problem. Unfortunately it's very difficult to get to those bolts without removing the fan housing. You can remove the fan belt, remove the fan bolts, loosen the 4 8mmx1.25 nuts (13mm wrench) holding the fan housing on. That should give you enough working room to get to the bracket nuts without removing the engine from the car. BUT, it can be a bit of a pain if you're not familiar with where all the bolts are from memory.

Well I'm already past the part of trying to fix it in the car as you can see....



I've bought all the goodies to do a 2.0L upgrade to my 1.8L engine so I've past the commit level right now. By Saturday night I should have the front shrowding off and should be able to tell if that bracket has caused the fault.

I'll update the post then.

Looks forward to the conclusion of the mystery.

Careful -JR-, you're in dangerous territory...........next thing you'll be powder-coating engine tin, doing a little rust repair while the engines out........... and while I've got it this far apart, I might as well....

Ya well.... I wouldn't count on it. I'm saving my real bucks for the 3.2-6 conversion I'll be doing next year. I just want to do a quickie rebuild on this crate, but I found a great price on all the parts to make it a 2.0L

I want have the engine back in within 2 weeks.

James

Sweet!

It's just kind of a running joke around here (while I've got it this far apart, I might as well...), not suggesting that you'd fall into that trap.

Ya, I've been in auto restoration circles for some time and realized the point you were making.

I want to get this thing on the road soon, so to stick to my time frame I will not be able to do those "extra" things. The only thing I might wait for right now is a preformance cam for it. I haven't descieded if I am going to spend an extra $130 on a cam yet.

James

Unlike me, it sounds like you had a plan to start out with. At least I've gotten to the point where I can't think of any more parts I need....maybe

Glad to see that avatar back in rotation Special K. was always one of my favorites

Well I've removed the fan shroud assembly and can clearly see the front motor mount now. There is no way in hell that mount can interfier with the fan. So the dig into the motor still continues.

You might want to check if the fan is bumping into the housing.

Well the culprit has been found! #4 rod is SO LOOSE on the crank it litterally moves about 2mm around the bearing!

My first thought when I heard the engine was rod knock, but I've never heard rod knock that bad before! ha ha.

Oh well.

-JR-