In the past I have had two similar experiences.
The first and I doubt this happened was that the clutch gave out with a big
bang. This happened at speed, about 65 MPH. Bad timing on my part as I was
being passed by Jay Leno in his monster V-12 Rolls with the non-stock
Rolls-Merlin engine. Problem was caused by an incorrectly adjusted clutch
(easy to get it wrong on the 100-4's). The pressure arm cut a hole around
the clutch as the arm was going too far into the cover and cut a hole around
the pressure plate cover.
The second loud bang happens regularly in smaller British 4 cylinder cars.
It is an ugly moment when the crank breaks, with a bang, and it seems this
only happens at speed. But it is unusual to the big 6's to break a crank.
My first set of diagnoses would be to take out the plugs and crank the
engine checking for:
- some oil pressure
- distributor shaft rotation
- movement of the valve train
- cylinder compression
Let us know,
Jim LeBlanc
1956 100-M
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Brent Barnes
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:48 AM
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Bang! and then nothing
List,
Last evening, I was taking her down to the climatized warehouse for a winter
nap...about 5 miles into the 30 mile trip, doing about 65 (top down, about
30 degrees, but hey!), when BANG! BANG! coupla huge backfires, big cloud of
oil smoke and then nothing. Engine would turn over on the starter but would
not fire at all. No oil on the rear, no oil under the hood, lots of oil on
the dipstick. Three hours and three flatbeds later, she's at least enclosed.
Ideas anyone? I guess I'm also looking for a good engine doc in the
Northeast....
Brent Barnes
(wuz a) 60 BT7 MK1
Garden State
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