Loose Crankshaft

Hello everyone…
I'm not sure where to begin, with this new problem.

It started (or I think so), when the fan belt came off while i was driving on a freeway, I had to drive for almost another 3k's before finding a place to buy another one.

Not so long after that i started hearing a knocking noise from the engine when i engaged the clutch. A few days ago i took the car to a mechanic (same one I've been going to since i got the car.) and he told me the crankshaft is loose, he showed me how it had way more play then a normal one (it can be pulled out about 1.5cm).

Finally he suggested I get a new engine all together. I was hoping to hear what you guys think would be the best option, the engine he suggested is a 1.8l carb to (He's actually testing it today) to replace my 1.3l carb.

1.5 cm is a massive amount of play in the crankshaft

you sure??

just with this amount of play i'm surprised it actually ran ever

1.5CM….. 8O

If you have that much play then the crank and block will be scrap! failed thrust bearings may give .5 - .6 ish play but not a lot more. …

It's a bit of work putting in a big block. moving an engine mount, changing the steering rack and gear link.

TT

Its not feasible that youd get 1.5cm of endthrust.

The conrods would be battering the crankcase to bits, the little ends would be trying to haul the pistons longitudinally through the block, the clutch simply wouldnt work, the timing belt would have snapped….and so on.
Just not possible.

If your mechanic is suggesting that you fit a carb from a 1.8 onto your 1.3, you need to find a new mechanic

Just fitting a bigger carb will do nothing for the car - in fact it will run like a sick pig for a while, and then it won't run at all.

Also - have you actually seen the movement in the crank, or is your mechanic just decribing it to you? I simply can't believe that 1.5cm of end play is possible on a running engine. 1.5 MILLIMETRES, maybe.

I think the throwing of the fanbelt is entirely un-related (unless it was tensioned so tightly that its damaged the crank end bearings)

is the crank pulley loose?

or even the fan belt pully

I think the OP has got the units wrong, or something got lost in translation between him and mechanic. Needs to come back and confirm it, really.

Hi, thanks for all the replies, I got a second opinion and this mechanic told me the same thing…I need a new cranckshaft.

Between repairing the old motor and fitting a new one, I'm siding towards the new one since his charging a very small fee to fit it and i could take it back to him for any other problems.

P.s if it were play on the pulley, how much less of a job would it be to fix it.

if it were a loose pulley youd just tighten 4 bolts and bobs your mothers brother
again though 1.5cm is a ridiculous amount of movement…
to do the engine conversion to 1.8 youd be looking at an awful lot of work compared to swapping like for like…
like for like id say a couple of hundred at most… 1.3 to 1.8 youd be looking at more than double if not triple that after parts and labour

Are the engine mounts on the old mk1's the same as the new? I've got a 1998 model, could that mean engine will just fit?

Before i posted this topic none of the other people i asked about the engine change said anything bout big job. The choice was mainly about how a crank cannot move that much…

Mk1 was produced between 1974-1984 for hatchbacks, 1979-1992 for cabriolets. There are others eg south african models which went on for longer though. Tell us about your 1998 model, are you sure its a Mk1 and if so, what is it, etc?

Lol I am from South Africa. It's a 1.3l chico (98)which has a slightly different interior to the earlier chico's (96 back) e.g rev counter, new style steering wheel, cup holders and other small changes. The exterior also has very few changes since the older mk1's. Oh and it's a 5 speed unlike the earlier 1.3l models.

Here's the car


And here's the engine

??1.3??

looks like a big block engine?

TT

Yep, 1998 1.3 is a big block, while the earlier one is a small block engine. So you can replace the 1.3 with a 1.8 with relatively little hassle. You could even keep the same gearbox if you like, although I'd imagine the ratios would be wrong, so might be an idea fitting the 1.8 gearbox with it too.

Thanks for all the replies, I might post some pix in two weeks or so when the 1800 is fitted, and the car is resprayed (same colour).

ah i see… i was thinking it was an original 80s style 1.3 :p my apologies

looks in fantastic condition