General Tech Rebuild Report

[KVH]

I am all rebuilt, and the car is seemingly running great. I will post a detailed report of what I did and some of the problems and issues encounted along the way, in the hope that a summary like that will help others (and me when the time comes again).

In the meantime, however, I do have two more questions.

First, when I turn the engine off after it’s been hot, which it has been because of extended idling times while tuning, I hear a loud ping or click about six or seven minutes into the cool down period.

To me, it seems like the ping or click is coming from the timing cover area, but it could be anywhere near the front of the engine.

Is there any chance that I’m hearing something in the radiator cap or thermostat? it’s like something is spring loaded, and releasing.

Second, I’m still curious about this “Race“ distributor I have. This car has been “asleep“ for so many years, I forgot that it has loud Monza mufflers, and I’m wondering if my distributor is in any way contributing toward the “race car” sound of my little TR.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CJD]

I would think the distributor would have little or no affect on the sound of your exhaust...short of giving you back fires, LOL.

I can't really think of anything causing the ping on cool down. Most sounds like that I have heard are on new cars, with a lot of sheet metal heat shields. Some cars I have had make ticks and crackles for 30 minutes after shutdown. I've never had that on my TR2/3A. Soon after shutdown you should be able to hear the "tick" of the control box cutout, but that should happen within a second or 2 of shutdown.

 

[RJS]

Agree on the distributor and exhaust sound. I cannot see any relationship b/t the two. It would be helpful to hear the ping or click. Unless it sounds harsh like two pieces hitting each other, usually those post-shut down pings are various metal part cooling and contracting again, like John is referring to

Bob

 

[poolboy]

A real 'race distributor' normally would not have the ability or provision for any vacuum controlled advance or retard since there wouldn't be a moveable 'points plate'.. and the centrifugal advance curve for racing, would not be particularly suitable for a street driven car.....but I can't either see that affecting the noise coming out of the exhaust system.

 

[sp53]

Perhaps if you run the motor again at idle put a fan in front of the engine to help cool. Like said sounds like metal cooling down somewhere might even be a body panel or radiator stuff cooling. This last engine I built makes a sound when I shut it off after I have had it out driving. The sound sounds deep in the engine and like it comes from hard metal like the crank, but the engine shuts down quick with no running on. I like the way it stops because I figured it is a tight motor with the ignition correct and hopefully the sound will go away when thing loosen up, I hope preeety please.



steve

 

[KVH]

I really think it’s my radiator cap, thermostat, or, like you say, sheet metal cooling from expansion. I just replaced my radiator cap just fyi. It wasn’t leaking but even though brand spanking new, the upper seal for the top of the filler lip was totally distorted and even torn apart. Who knows how, and maybe irrelevant, but just pointing it out.

 

[KVH]

And fyi that Race distributor seems fine. Timing right on the mark. I’ll keep looking for something to worry about.