Okay, so here's the situation. Just got what I thought was the last of
the kinks worked out on my '84 westy with a new tiico conversion. I
pulled over at the top of the pass over the tunnel that goes into
Bisbee, got out to whiz, leaving the van to idle, and could hear a
knocking sound coming from the engine. Doh!

The sound is real rhythmic, 1, 2, 3, pause, 1, 2, 3, pause. . . maybe
two or four cycles a second at idle. Sounds like its coming from where
the engine meets the bellhousing. Fairly loud, can easily hear it in the
drivers seat at idle. Clutch operates smoothly, the sound goes away when
you press the clutch in. with the clutch out, the rhythm speeds up with
the throttle. Can hear it in first gear, it gradually diminishes with
higher speeds, but I think that's 'cause of road/wind noise more than
anything.

So, I coast down the hill to the homestead, mope for a while, and pull
the transmission. Pressure plate/clutchdisk/flywheel look great, just a
little clutch lining dust, no oil. Bell housing is dry too. There's a
few small metal shavings in the bottom. The shaft the throwout bearing
rides on was pretty dry, but the bearing itself spun smoothly. When I
spin the tranny input shaft in neutral, there's a particular spot on the
rotation where the shaft "sticks", and takes a little effort to get
going again.  Its less obvious at higher rotation speeds, and when its
in gear.

Is this a sure sign of needing a rebuild, some lube on the T.O. bearing,
or something else? Was kind of bummed when it happened, after all the
effort I've put into this van, I just want to drive it! But kind of
reassuring in a wierd way, if it is the tranny, its not really my fault.

Thanks for any help. If anybody can recommend a rebuilder in the
southwest that'd be great.

jeff kennedy