Is it time to play Taps?

[SuperHO]

Is my 95 MTX toast?

I've been dealing with a gawd-awful noise coming from what seemed like the top end of my engine since I had the swap done in my 95 MTX. Every search I did and every mechanic I took it too (including those who did the swap) said everything leads to a timing chain tensioner on the front head not doing it's job. K....tear the car apart yesterday, disassemble the tensioner (the timing chain had tension when I pulled it apart, by the way), put it all back together after a thorough cleansing of said tensioner, and now the noise is even LOUDER....though upon closer inspection, it sounds like it's coming from the front of the engine....let's take a look....HOLY CRAP!!! The crank pulley's wobbling like a drunken prom date!!! It's moving about 1/8th of an inch in either direction. So I tried to tighten the bolt...no movement...tried to LOOSEN the bolt...no movement...WTF?? The guy who swapped my engine also swapped pulleys....and apparently cross-threaded the crank bolt without tightening the pulley all the way...and may have cost me an engine, cuz it's makin ALL sorts of racket....it sounds like rod knock double time, if that makes sense, only louder. So I guess my question is this....based on what you just heard, is my engine fried? If so, anyone think I have justification to approach the shop that did my swap and demand another engine (even if it's just swapping the 3.2 out of my 94)? Or am I SOL? HELP!!!!!!!

 

[MADDOG11]

Well, after owning my own shop and working in many others I would say you have a case for atleast some good will!!! If I were you I would take it back to the shop, tell the owner/manager what you noticed and ask what can be done? If the parts changer cross threaded the bolt he should be able to back it out and retap the crank. If he can't back it out the crank will need to come out, be sent to a machine shop where it can be cut out and be retaped. If the engine is junk due to the improper install of the balancer they should atleast attempt to find an engine with like milage and R&R it at no charge. However, I don't recommend going in there and pounding on desks at this point! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[SuperHO]

eh, I figured i'd be nice at the start. It's a reputable shop and well known in the west michigan SHO community, which is why I went there in the first place.....I'm not ****** about the situation...yet. But if they try to dodge it and place the blame elsewhere, well, being a combat veteran, i've got access to really inexpensive legal services........