Learn something new all the time, (long)

[LubeDude]

Last Fall, The Boss bought a 1965, 350 HP, 327, A/C, Corvette Roadster. Nice car, been sitting a few years. I rebuilt the carb and did some ignition work and got it running good enough to drive. It had a bad oil leak, (I think I mentioned this before) so I changed the rear main seal. Well, he took it out one afternoon and came back and said, " Man, this car has a BAD vibration at about 2,500 RPM, Its not even drivable". I took it out and Wow, he was right. The vibration wasnt there when I drove it before though. Checking things, I found that the yoke on the trans end of the driveshavt was worn and the universal joints were not good, so I started a repair process than ended up with me pulling the transmision also. So, rebuilt the transmision, (needed it badly) Flywheel resurface, new preasure plate, new cluch, throwout, New yolk, new universal joints, resealed the intake manifold, new valve cover gaskets, resealed the oil sender and vent tube. Just got this project done first of this week. Took car for a test drive thinking all would be fine. NOT!!! Vibration still there, and now the water pump is out. So fixed that and start looking for vibration. Actually took it to a friend of mine for another opinion as I had ran out of Ideas. He had me start it up and he felt of the car and reved it up. He motioned for me to get out of the car and come to the engine compartment and have a look. He showed me that the fan assy (Fan and Clutch) was wobbling some, He said to change the fan cluch and the vibration would go away. So I did and the vibation was somewhat better, but still there, so I looked at the fan while the engine was running and noticed that there was still some variation, so I did away with the clutch and fan all together and the vibration was totally gone. Now it has a flex fan and spacer which I painted black so it doesnt stick out like a sore thumb and everything is fine now.<br /><br />So, the senario was, Fan being out of ballance took out the clutch which took out the waterpump bearing.<br /><br />I never would have thought that a fan could make such a terrable vibration, I mean it was so bad you couldnt drive the car above 2,500 RPM.<br /><br />Oh, No more oil leak!

 

[jimr]

Re: Learn something new all the time, (long)

ain't wrenching fun?

 

[Link]

Re: Learn something new all the time, (long)

Was going make a seperate post but this ties in well with yours LubeDude. And is long also. <br /><br />Wow quite the ordeal LubeDude.<br />Sold my 85 F250 4X4 to a idiot once.<br />To his credit he always was prompt on his payments.<br /> <br />A little over a year later he still had not even changed the oil or lubed anything. Well the front U joint went out of the drive shaft and it hit the highway! (darn near flipped the truck from what I was told) Anyway a couple weeks later I meet him at a 711 getting coffee. Noticed no rear drive shaft. He has it in 4 wheel high driving it on interstate 5! Says he cant find one and this will just have to do for now. <br />A couple months later he calls me and says that the front axel drive shaft U Joint went out and the drive shaft bounced up and took out all of the fan belts. Can I help him get it towed home.<br />I had the truck pulled to his place the next day and I put a rear drive shaft with new U joint in the cab.<br />This is where it ties into your post LubeDude.<br /><br />Now he cant figure out how many fan belts he needs and where they should go. So he buys one LARGE fan belt (it takes 5) and makes it work.<br />Once again I tell him to just buy a book and and fix it.. once again he tells me he cant find one and this will just have to do for now.<br />Not my problem so I just go home...<br /><br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />Six months later he gets in trouble with the law and leaves the truck in front of the shop with the keys. I know about the fan belts so I bought a manual then bought the belts and made a appointment to have them installed. On the way over to drop the truck off the water pump comes apart and sends the fan and clutch through the radiator. Joe the mech who has done all the work on my truck since 1990 (minus the two years) called Ford and found out that with just the one fan belt it put too much pressure on a brass bearing and caused it go away then caused the pump to break off. After the bearing was gone the pressure wore into the casting and it just shattered! <br />ACK does preventive maintains come to mind??

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Learn something new all the time, (long)

i changed the stock clutch style fan on my 1977 gmc fullsize pickup onece and lost one of the bolts during the instalation, so i used just 3 instead of 4. got that same vibrate that you did with the vette , lube dude. i cought it about 5 mins later though, luckilly