My Formula recently acquired a knock. I got under it and it was not coming from anywhere except the starter/flexplate area. I didn't see any cracks on the flexplate, so I put my old starter back on it. The noise didn't stop. I definitely think that the flexplate is the problem because there is not really anything else near these that could make this noise. Any thoughts????
The knock is consistent to the rpm of the engine (as in it knocks or sort of ticks on every revolution of the motor). Is there anything else that it could be? My motor runs great and has good oil pressure, so I hope it is nothing major.
Is there any easy way to get the flexplate off or does the trans. have to come out?
Thanks for any help.

 

3 bolts hold the flexplate to the torqur converter and another 5 or so hold it to the crank, pull them and drop it out. You might just want to check and make sure the bolts are all tight first. When I took my engine/trans out I found that all 3 flexplate to torque converter bolts were loose.

 

morley how many flex plates or flywheels you ever chaged that way? maybe a grand total of none? most cracked flex plates i've seen made a really loud growl sort of sound, a few never made any noise, or couldn't be heard over headers. look for loose bolts, but you won't be able to reach the ones on the crank i don't think, but you might be able to see them. you can pry on it to see if it has any excessive movement, or put an indicator on it to see if it has excessive run out.

 

You can't change it without seperating the trans from the engine, thats not what I was trying to imply (though it might have sounded that way), but you don't have to move the trans far.

If just a couple of the crank to flexplate bolts are loose you'll probably be able to tell by looking, though you may have to unbolt the converter and slide it aft that last half inch to get a look at the ones on the crank (use a dental mirror if needed)

 

ok morley i can believe that. not being a typest i try to minmize the words i need to use and sometimes i don't say what i mean, or in other words i have a dumbass attack at times.

 

most cracked flex plates i've seen made a really loud growl sort of sound, a few never made any noise, or couldn't be heard over headers


So are you guys saying that if it is not making a growling noise then it is probably not the flexplate???
If so, what else could it be??
Please help b/c I will be pulling the transmission this weekend.
Thanks again.

 

No, I wouldn't rule out the flexplate immediatly. I would, however, have a look at the bolts before you go yanking the trans. If the noise is coming from back in that area then it could very well be the flexplate or (at the worst) it could be the rear main bearing (ick).

 

Never heard one without a growl? When I cracked mine, it sounded just as he described. NOise coming from starter dust cover area, and loud as all hell. Sounded like a spun bearing. Everyone we talked to said spun bearing. My uncle, who drag races, said check the flywheel first. Sure enough it was the flywheel. It was rpm dependent, and made a whole butt load of noise. Its about 3 hours and $45. Check it before assuming it isnt. Its much cheaper than other stuff.

 

i replaced several in 4 cylinder fords, topaz, tempo, and escort sized cars and the center hub would crack 360* and make a hell of a noise. easier to pull engine on them to do it than mass with transaxle. i rebuilt a 355 few years ago that had cracked flex plate and the owner never knew it. i wasn't sure it was even a crack till i put some dye pen on it.

 

hey I just had an update on my problem.
I finally took it out and I found out the noise stops if I get it over 3000 rpms, and does it worse when I am at part throttle just cruising around.
Any ideas, now?????
I guess I will be taking it to the guy that just rebuilt my transmission, if no one can help me out.
Thanks again.