Yikes!!!!

[Richard Hudson <richard.hudson@domain.elided>]

Dear All

Thought I would write my experiences from this weekend to maybe help you
guys out there.

History 1st, rebuilt my engine 2 years ago. Got really enthusiastic and
spent huge amounts of money on the rebuild.
Got married last year and as the suspension was shot and MOT ran out, so
I didn't really use the car at all last year. Spent all winter
rebuilding suspension back and front, MOT'ed last week, Taxed last
friday. You can imagine it, Saturday morning, pouring "english" rain,
not gonna stop me, go out in my Stag for a major shake down, it feels
lovely.

Confident that all is well, return home to pick up the wife. Off we go,
driving all over the place, until nearly back home when...

horrible metal on metal grinding noise, started very quietly I noticed
it stopped the car and lifted the bonnet nothing really. back in car rev
engine in park or neutral. horrible gring grrr grind grrrrr gring and
all with a nasty vibration running right through the car.

Quick check, oil in gearbox, power steering ok, engine looks fine, maybe
the propshalf is touching my freshly installed exhaust. but no, the
noise is not tinny and it also happens when in park..

I'm starting to loose weight and fast, noise is getting more and more
frequent. Now I can hear that it is coming from the front of the engine.
hmm disconnect power steering belt ... no difference. Getting depressed
now, imaging chains gringing through something and filling sump with
metal shards.. Push car into garage and close door, misses is fed up
because I shouted at her.. opps

Phone technical Advisor from Stag Owners Club, explain problem, he
sounds down too now. Oh no three people upset in one weekend. Then "I
know what it is!" he screams down the phone. "Your viscous fan, does it
spin?" I check but it does. I do however notice that there must be a
good centemeter of play (backwards and forwards) on the whole fan unit.
"Viscous bearing has gone" comes the explaination. Apparently this nice
chap had this happen before and remembered that the virbration was
intermittant and the shook the whole car.

Phew...

Sure gave me a fright, I have gotta be more confident in the design..

Richard Hudson
73 Stag (auto and White)