1930 Tudor with Engine Noise at Gilmore

[Tom Wesenberg]

While at Gilmore on Saturday afternoon, about 3 o'clock someone asked me to listen to an engine noise on a 1930 Tudor. There were 4 or 5 of us listening to the engine making a deep rap noise as it was revved up. We agreed it sounded like a bad bearing, and I suggested that if the owner was going to drive the car 300 miles home he should find a back road and not go faster than 35 MPH.

I'm just wondering if the car made it home, or if anyone knows the outcome of the problem? Thanks

[Jon]

I talked to him too. He is from Alpena. I suggested he get a few knowledgeable people to listen to it before he left.
Sorry I missed your seminar, busy in the swap meet.

[WestCoast]

if was a heavy deep toned knock my bet is a main bearing and he could make it home driving slow, he should have pulled the pan and checked, he may have been able to pull a shim or two, it it was a sharp rap, rod bearing, same thing, pull the pan and check, if it is a rod he will never make it

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If a center main is suspected, ground #2 & #3 at the SAME time & it will be quiet! This is a "SURE FIRE" test.
Bill W.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

While at Gilmore on Saturday afternoon, about 3 o'clock someone asked me to listen to an engine noise on a 1930 Tudor. There were 4 or 5 of us listening to the engine making a deep rap noise as it was revved up. We agreed it sounded like a bad bearing, and I suggested that if the owner was going to drive the car 300 miles home he should find a back road and not go faster than 35 MPH.

I'm just wondering if the car made it home, or if anyone knows the outcome of the problem? Thanks

I use to live in Alpena Mich still belong to the club there. I know most of them. Did they give you a name. Did a couple of engine there. Hope it is not one of mine.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I didn't get his name, but he did mention the engine was a rebuilt with less than 5000 miles, and I thought I heard him say he got the engine in a raffle.

My best guess was the center main is making the noise.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I didn't get his name, but he did mention the engine was a rebuilt with less than 5000 miles, and I thought I heard him say he got the engine in a raffle.

My best guess was the center main is making the noise.

does not sound like one of mine. I did sell a 1930 Tudor 30 years ago to a guy there. He ended up painting it a funny blue color. We as a club did a engine, in the early 2000. that went to a guy that was building a Model A. not sure if he ever got it done. But he lived in Hillman.

[Glen in Hillman MI]

Hi Tom,
It was my car having the problem and I want to thank everyone that was out there giving good and logical suggestions on the noise. I drained some oil out and put in 2 cans of STP before leaving for home on Sunday morning. I figured for every mile we made it toward home that was 2 miles our trailer didn't have to travel to pick us up. We made it home in about 7 1/2 hours, taking the shortest way we knew which was about 250 miles. Yesterday, I did an oil pump volume check before I pulled the engine. It seemed to be a little low. I did pull the engine and got as far as pulling the clutch assembly off to check flywheel bolts. On a couple of the bolts I got more than 1/2 a turn to tighten them and the other 2 about a 1/4 a turn. I did this check with my impact wrench and not a torque wrench. Today I'm going to pull the pan. I will first check the quality of the oil pump and then pull the center main to inspect it. The noise did seem to subside when I got up to driving speed of 45-50 mph but the STP didn't really seem to quiet it down. I will post again after I inspect the engine more.
For those that don't know the history, I purchased this engine complete as a drop-in engine. It has about 6100 miles on it.
Thanks,
Glen

[Mitch//pa]

glad you made it home ok..
loose flywheel bolts can sure cause a noise.....
keep us posted

[George Miller]

Hi Glen Glad you made it home ok. Maybe you will be lucky and it's a loose timing gear.

[Patrick L.]

It sounds as though you may have your noise, hope thats all it is. I'm wondering how those bolts loosened. They weren't laced ?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Good Point. The wire should be run through the bolts in such a way that the bolts couldn't turn loose. 1/2 turn is quite a bit.

[colin1928]

Just because a bolt is1/2 a turn loose does not mean it has turned back out 1/2 turn the flywheel may not have been fully seated due to a burr or dirt or rust

[Glen in Hillman MI]

When I pulled the pan yesterday morning, I found lots of Babbitt in the bottom. I could slide the crankshaft back and forth with my hand. I'm not real sure what causes the Babbitt to break away like this. I'm in the process of building up a new engine. As my luck would have it, When I opened the gasket kit carton, the head gasket was severely damaged and I don't have another spare. The cardboard package that held the kit has no physical damage on the outside. Thanks again for all the good ideas. They were all viable ones to consider.
Glen

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would also ditch your crankshaft pulley, as it has a bit of radial runout.

Hope you are going with a counterweighted crankshaft on the new engine.

Rich from AER was at Gilmore with one of his engines. The shop that welds the counterweights on his crankshafts sure does a beautiful job. Those are the nicest welds I've ever seen on counterweights.

[C26Pinelake]

It was great that you got home both safe and sound. 250 miles is a long trip when you are constantly thinking it could go any time ! Keep us posted please. Wayne

[George Miller]

Glenn I do not think that there is any one in that area that does babbitt any more. Gram Motors use to back in the day. But I think he is retired now.
Have you considered inserts.

[katy]

I did this check with my impact wrench and not a torque wrench.

FWIW, I was taught that it's OK to use an impact wrench when dissasembling an engine, but NEVER EVER use one when assembling or working on an engine.

Your mileage may vary.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Any updates and PICTURES about the babbit in the bottom of the pan?

Which bearing or bearings are bad?