awful clatter

[glee]

The van was fine when I parked up last night. I pulled off this morning and when acelerating in all gears there is now a terrible clatter. Rev it up in neutral and it sounds perfect. Take my foot off the pedal and the noise goes. Any ideas?

[Dean]

It's a long shot, but check the exhaust isn't banging against the car where it exits the engine compartment?

[glee]

Dean. Thanks for that and for not mentioning anything nastier. I did think it might be the exhaust had shifted. Its a 1964 van I have just recently finished restoring and have got into a bit of a fluster thinking it was the big end. This would have been a major disappointment as I had the engine reconditioned before I took it off the road seven years ago. Regards G.

[beero]

Where do you think the noise is coming from? Engine bay? Underneath?
Difficult with noises, unless you hear them it is a job to diagnose.

[bmcecosse]

Cat wrapped itself round the prop shaft?

[Bazzalucas]

one can only hope, Roy!

[glee]

I did wonder where the cat had got to.
The sound is slightly left towrds the engine bay so i'm waiting for the weekend to check out the exhaust theory.
Cheers G

[mike.perry]

Shake the exhaust and listen for it touching anything.
Big ends will rattle in time with the engine when you rev it in neutral and disappear when you lift off the accelerator.
Does the clutch feel normal?
Can you get all the gears normally?

[beero]

If it is the exhaust banging and it happened suddenly then you might want to check engine and gearbox mounts and engine steady bar.

[Peetee]

Gearb lever linkage or gear lever retaining plate loose perhaps. does it dissapear when you rest your hand on the gearknob?

[glee]

Thanks for your help everyone.
Its not the exhaust - a real shame cos its such an easy fix.
I can rev it in neutral and there is no horrible clatter.
All gears are fine.
Touching the gear lever makes no difference.
Now for the gear linkage and retaining plate theory.
Its cold out there.
Regards
G

[glee]

The sun is out and so is the engine.
What do I look for?
I forgot to mention in my earlier post that not only was there an awful clatter under load but there was a serious loss of power.
Cheers G

[mike.perry]

I think that we are into checking the big ends
At least you will know one way or the other

[bmcecosse]

Blown manifold gasket - or head gasket? 'Big ends' wouldn't cause any significant loss of power.......

[PSL184]

I'm putting my money on head gasket....

[glee]

Thanks PSL 184 the more I read thats what I am thinking. I will keep you posted so you can collect your winnings.
Trouble is when we had the engine reconditioned, several years ago, it had to go back after about 500miles because the gasket had blown. They said we had not run it in or kept it topped up with water. This was absolutely wrong on both counts as we had looked after it very carefully. They sorted it out (tried to charge me but they failed miserably) and we ran it for 1000 miles before taking it off the road for top to bottom restoration.
So my question is.... if it is the head gasket again what could be causing this?
I love working on it but a head gasket change every 1000 mile would spoil the love a bit.
Easy G

[mike.perry]

Blown head gasket - Face of block or head not flat, not torqued down properly, poor quality gasket, wrong size gasket.
Its a nice day, time to get on with it.
I still think it might be a big end if its sounds like someone is hitting it with a hammer

[bmcecosse]

Who were these experts that tried to tell you 'running in' would save the head gasket blowing????? As above - clean and flat, copper faced gasket - tighten to 44 ftlbf - and after the first heat cycle, retighten again to 44 ftlbf and set the valve gaps.....

[LouiseM]

Who were these experts that tried to tell you 'running in' would save the head gasket blowing?????

Glee - If you wish to provide bmcecosse with the name of the company this should be sent to him via pm and not posted on the open forum. Thank you

[glee]

PSL184 collect your winnings. Massacred betwen 3 &4.
My first adventure inside an engine. Assistance from an old chap who reconditioned his first engine 50 years ago.
Big end and everything else it tip top order.
Cause: not all head nuts torqued down the same it seemed.
Thankfully the head has sat back down nice and evenly.
I even come across a copper gasket in my spares box - what a lucky day.
It will be purring again in no time.

The company who did it was the Morris Minor Centre on the Leabridge Road in Hackney who are no longer.
I can't complain about them as we got the van from them and they were a lovely lot and were always most helpful.
Shame they are no longer going - I'd still do business with them.
I think they just had a bad day.
Thanks for all your help.
Easy G