Replacing Head Gaskets

[SVXRide]

Did you replace the motor mounts or reuse the old ones? Does the "thumping" increase with engine speed?
-Bill

[Merz]

The old motor mounts were completely broken so i replaced them with oem sti mounts. Had a few problems getting them to fit, but they are in and tight now. The engine seems to be sitting a little higher.

yes the thumping speeds up with the speed of the engine. It doesnt get louder, just faster.

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by Merz

The old motor mounts were completely broken so i replaced them with oem sti mounts. Had a few problems getting them to fit, but they are in and tight now. The engine seems to be sitting a little higher.

yes the thumping speeds up with the speed of the engine. It doesnt get louder, just faster.

Try getting a long screwdriver or engine stethescope (sp?) and see if you can't isolate exactly where the thumping is coming from. I hope you don't have a rod bearing that has gone south
FWIW, a cracked flex plate will have more of a "ticking" sound versus a "thumping" sound.

-Bill

[Merz]

I will listen better tomorrow. It really sounds like it is coming from the back of the engine, possibly more on the passenger side. Whatever the problem is, it wasnt there before i started working on the headgasket. So it has to be something that i damaged while working on it, or while removing/installing the engine.

[Merz]

Still havnt figured out what the knocking sound is. I have a feeling it is the torque converter, or something in the front of the transmission. I need some help figuring this out.

Question: Can i remove the 4 tq converter-flexplate bolts, and then start the engine?
The tc slides back half an inch or so when its not attatched to the flexplate, so I think it would clear ok. This would tell me if the knocking is in the engine/flexplate, or tranny/tc. ??

[Merz]

I can get the knocking to stop occasionally. If i park on a hill and put it in neutral, then let the car roll backwards and hit the brakes hard, the knocking stops. I can even rev the engine and everything sounds normal. But as soon as i start driving, the knock is back. Its like something is out of alignment, and when i hit the brakes while rolling backwards, it aligns it temporarily. Other than this, the knocking is always there. regardless of rpm, in park or drive, speed of car, etc.. It sounds different depending on if there is a load on the engine, but it is always there.

[TomsSVX]

no. Reason is, the torque converter has the ring for the starter so it would spin the hell out of the torque converter and not the engine

Tom

[Merz]

Crap. I should have known that.

[Dessertrunner]

Have you solved the problem?

[Merz]

I have not solved the problem. I am pretty sure it is the flexplate. Ive read about a few people who damaged their flexplates while installing the engine. I had to shake the hell out of my engine to get it to line up with the transmission.

I will check it out in a few days after i am done moving.

Removing the tranny is the easiest way to check the flexplate right?

[Dessertrunner]

I am currently pulll the engine out of one of my SVX's and had a couple of thoughts,
Check each bolt on the flex plate to make sure it is not lose some times you think you did all of them up and you miss one.
On the older Subaru 's there was a light tin plate at the bottom on the gearbox were it meets the motor. What use to happen was the plate would get bent and touch the flywheel which would make a noise.

Keep us posted.
Tony

[Merz]

Thanks for the ideas. Before i tear everything apart, im going to disconnect the flexplate from the torque converter and rotate it by hand to see if i can hear the noise. If i hear it when i spin the tc, then i'll know its not the flexplate. I will also grab the flexplate and wiggle it to see if it makes any noises. Then reconnect them and make sure to torque them to specs, and see if the noise is still there. If that doesnt work, I will remove the tranny sometime next week probably. thanks.

[Merz]

I have the Torque convert disconnected from the flexplate now. When i reach in and spin the TC by hand, it makes a grinding sound and sometimes gets stuck and i have to push hard to move it. Is this normal? Is the grinding sound just the starter spinning? Seems like when i had the engine out before, the TC would spin freely and smooth, but i might have had the starter out then. i cant remember. Anyone??

i will probably put it back together and take the tranny out tomorrow if i can find a tranny jack or something that will work for one. Unless anyone has a better idea. I'd hate to take it apart and still not be able to find whats wrong.

-Evan

[crazyhorse]

Try pulling the starter first. You say it spun freely before, but not now, then mention the starter. It's a LOT easier than pulling the tranny!

[Merz]

Ok, i took out the starter and then spun the TC and it spun freely. So it was the starter. Everything is back together now and i will drive it home tonight and see if it sounds any different. if not, i will pull the transmission.