the source of the clatter in my TC engine

[Gene Wescott]

Thanks for the suggestions on the engine clatter. Last night I pulled the plugs, removed the valve cover, and started to check the valve clearances (cold) just to check for close to specs. As I was cranking to turn to each, I heard a sharp noise at the same place on each turn coming from the distributor. As you watched it, at the noise, the rotor popped back about a mm. I pulled the distributor to see if it is a broken piece on the distributor gear drive, or on the camshaft. The distributor is fine, but with a bright light down the hole, I could see some probable flatness or wear on the camshaft gear at one place. This is almost surely the cause of the noise which ceases above 1500. RPM. I think that the car is drivable for a while longer with the noise, but eventually the camshaft should be replaced. What do you think the harm may be in running with the noise? Does one have to pull the engine to replace the camshaft? What camshaft from whom do you recommend? The current one calls for 0.012 clearence, that is all I know about it. The head is shaved 0.85". Thanks for any advice. Gene, 47 TC33877 in Fairbanks Alaska [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Paroor]

Dear Gene, Before dismantling the cam, take a look at the distributor. The governors( automatic timing advancing mechanism) may make some sound. If there is a problem with the cam the engine may not run for long. In the catalogues there are pictures showing the distributor details. Look at the worn out parts and the tolerances, rebuild if needed after removing the old dry grease. Madhu -----Urspr ngliche Nachricht----- Von: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von Gene Wescott Gesendet: Sonntag, 15. Mai 2005 22:26 An: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Thanks for the suggestions on the engine clatter. Last night I pulled the plugs, removed the valve cover, and started to check the valve clearances (cold) just to check for close to specs. As I was cranking to turn to each, I heard a sharp noise at the same place on each turn coming from the distributor. As you watched it, at the noise, the rotor popped back about a mm. I pulled the distributor to see if it is a broken piece on the distributor gear drive, or on the camshaft. The distributor is fine, but with a bright light down the hole, I could see some probable flatness or wear on the camshaft gear at one place. This is almost surely the cause of the noise which ceases above 1500. RPM. I think that the car is drivable for a while longer with the noise, but eventually the camshaft should be replaced. What do you think the harm may be in running with the noise? Does one have to pull the engine to replace the camshaft? What camshaft from whom do you recommend? The current one calls for 0.012 clearence, that is all I know about it. The head is shaved 0.85". Thanks for any advice. Gene, 47 TC33877 in Fairbanks Alaska