Ack! Wobble at Front of Crank

#1

Trying to get my car sorted out before Hyperfest and have run into a potentially big issue. The vibration damper has a bit of a wobble to it and the motor is way down on power. I first thought it might just be the vibration damper itself, so I swapped on another one but the problem is still there. It doesn’t make any sense but it behaves like the front of the crank is bent slightly. I can’t imagine the crank bending so I’m baffled as to what this could be. Anybody seen anything like this and could it be something simpler like a majorly worn out main bearing?

Car is at the mechanic now. I asked them to do a compression test just to make sure the motor is worth saving before they start looking at the crank. Hoping they can figure something out this week so I can still make it to Hyperfest. Just in case, anybody have a spare M20 near Millersville (Baltimore) Maryland?

Thanks in advance,
-Joe

#2

jschmid wrote:

[quote]Trying to get my car sorted out before Hyperfest and have run into a potentially big issue. The vibration damper has a bit of a wobble to it and the motor is way down on power. I first thought it might just be the vibration damper itself, so I swapped on another one but the problem is still there. It doesn’t make any sense but it behaves like the front of the crank is bent slightly. I can’t imagine the crank bending so I’m baffled as to what this could be. Anybody seen anything like this and could it be something simpler like a majorly worn out main bearing?

Car is at the mechanic now. I asked them to do a compression test just to make sure the motor is worth saving before they start looking at the crank. Hoping they can figure something out this week so I can still make it to Hyperfest. Just in case, anybody have a spare M20 near Millersville (Baltimore) Maryland?

Thanks in advance,
-Joe[/quote]

Joe,

You might be in luck!

Jim Stauffer has a shop in Millersville. He is a great guy who used to race an E30 and has many spare parts. I am not sure he has an engine (have not spoken to him in 6 months) but give him a call. His information is below.

-Steve

Stauffers Auto Repair
(410) 729-0121
8328 Veterans Hwy, #E, Millersville, MD 21108

#3

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the info. Funny coincidence – I’ve bought parts from Jim and was at Summit with him on Sunday at an SCCA PDX day. I showed him the problem and he offered to take a look. Car is at his shop in Millersville now. He’s definitely a good guy and very helpful.

He might not have a spare M20 ready to go, but he’s definitely got a few cores that wouldn’t take much to put something together. He’s looking at the current bottom end and seeing what’s possible. Not sure he’ll get something ready for this weekend, but I’m hoping.

Thanks again,
-Joe