Knocking noise??

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:29 am

Just to give you a bit of history. When I took car in for rolling road run I was told that distributor was quite worn, but it seemed to hold it's own for the test.

On Tuesday morning going to work the engine started knocking when on load when going up a hill this got worse the steeper the hill got. At one point the engine started missing badly. Before returning home I tried adjusting timing. I got a good tickover then when I revved it up a bit the tickover suddenly dropped by about 100 rpm/
. As a few of you mau know this car runs on LPG, so I turned it over to LPG and the knocking subsided. It doesn't knock when revved up stationary ,only when on the move.
At first I thought it may be big ends going, but they dont go all of a sudden. Do they?
The day before this started I was driving quite happily at about 65mph with no knocking.

I am about 70% sure this is dizzy definitly on way out. Hopefully someone can confirm this for me, before I invest in an Aldon Yellow.

Post by **Orkney** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:34 am

What condition are the spark plugs in ?

Love the sound of LPG conversion - would like to here more about that when you get time.

Post by **RogerRust** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:04 am

Knocking sound could be the exhaust, sometimes it really sounds like the engine is going to fall apart. Have a look where the pipe goes through the bulkhead sometimes there is very little clearance. I cetainly had that problem with a sprite many years ago.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:15 pm

If the oil pressure is good - it won't be the bearings Ian!! Is this not the noise you get just before the head gaskets blows - yet again? Wouldn't spend cash on Aldon dizzy - just try another standard dizzy. If you really want the very TOP dizzy - get a 123 - comes with a full set of advance curves and you just try them till you get one that suits your engine. I don't use my car enough to justify the cost - or i would have one!
Otherwise - check for overheating - and check the valve clearances.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:00 pm

Orkney, plugs are about 1 month old.
Roger, Exhaust OK. Plenty of clearance all round.
Roy, will have to connect oil pressure gauge up. Hopefully not head gasket going again. Stripped dizzy down and cleaned and oiled. No obvious fault found. Can get Aldon for around £150, 123 is £218. When I have refitted dizzy and gome for a run, it knocks on petrol but is OK on LPG.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:05 pm

But the 123 will always be worth the extra cash - a far better bet! And look at the fun you will have trying out all the curves. The Aldon is fixed curve - and whose to say it will be right for YOUR engine. Can you not wangle a discount on the 123 from anywhere? Club membership etc etc - get someone at work to order through them - and 'lose' the vat that way ???????

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:11 pm

Hey, it's taken me ages to bring SWMBO round to letting me spend £150.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:15 pm

Crikey your lucky - mine complains about £10 worth of petrol going in my Traveller! If i want to buy anything - I have to sell something else first! You need to have your own 'fund' for these things!

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:19 pm

Ah, but my car is used to get me to work everyday. So it has to run on Monday mornings. Plus Renault wanting £430 for an alternator on her Clio so £150 doesn't seem to expensive to her.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:41 pm

I hope you didn't pay that for the alt!! But seriously - I think the Aldon would be money down the drain. Meantime - I suggest you check the compressions !

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:45 pm

God no, I'm a Yorkshireman. Close run with Scotsmen. Yes I still have a few more checks to do. It is times like this when I wish I had the Clio.
She only pays £35 road tax for it.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:47 pm

Keep the faith Ian !

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:49 pm

Chuckles to ones self. I know but it is hard at times.

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:44 am

I always thought a Yorkshireman was a Scotsman stripped of his generosity!

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:53 am

Will have to think very carefully before I answer that one.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:55 pm

Well Roy, it seems you are right.
Compression test.
no1 120
no2 125
no3 225
no4 180

I cannot for the life of me understand why these keep going. If the block was warped I would expect it to go in same place each time. Granted about 4 times between 3-4 but twice now between 1-2. Also why has it taken so long this time, about 6 months.
Is it possible to get solid copper gasket for A Series, and I mean SOLID copper not asbestos sheathed in copper.

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:42 pm

PM sent

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:46 pm

I thought so Ian - sorry to be the 'voice of doom'. You can of course make your own gasket from copper or steel or unobtainium! Just need a flat sheet of material - and some punches. I have heard of heads being fitted with NO gasket - just fine surface ground and then lapped together.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:12 am

Check out SCparts.co.uk - they will do the 123 for £185 including the vat but obviously delivery extra unless you can collect ?

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:35 am

What's a 123?