Jeeze! Bob I sorry to hear you've been destroying a whole piano just to get
this 39 cent piece of piano wire.
But I'm dying of curiosity about which note you use for the best results.
I just been getting my piano wire from ACE Hardware in 12" lengths.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "ROBERT DONALDS" <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: rattle INSIDE engine

> now all we need is a piano
> Al I will send you a spring in good old US mail if you send me you address
>
> going slower miles an hour with a pain in my wallet
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Al and Sue Brase" <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 4:42 AM
> Subject: rattle INSIDE engine
>
>
> > For the past several years, my 87 2.1 engine has had an internal rattle.
> > Kind of sounds like a marble vibrating near the distributor. It rattles
> > a lot faster than a loose valve lifter. Maybe twice a revolution instead
> > of once every other revolution. This is an engine that I totally rebuilt
> > about 6 years (60k miles) ago. It had spun a rod bearing. I put in a set
> > of rebuilt 1.9 rods, reground the crank, new rings, etc. It runs great,
> > but the oil pressure was a little low. First I just shorted out the high
> > pressure sensor, but started using straight weight 40w oil for 9 months
> > a year. That keeps the buzzer off. I wouldn't be surprised that I
> > boogered something up in the assembly, but if it is a terminal error, it
> > sure is getting there slowly.
> > So, anyone have any ideas what might be the source of the rattle? I've
> > pretty well eliminated all the external sources.
> > Except possibly the plastic oil vent tower. Is there anything in there
> > that can get loose and rattle?
> > My other guess would be the distributor drive. Is there supposed to be
> > only one thrust washer at the bottom? What determines the end play of
> > the drive? (One thing that makes me wonder is that the timing seems to
> > dither when you check it with a timing lite. Maybe moves around 4
> > degrees or so.)
> > If the drive had excessive end play and was smacking up against the
> > distributor every half turn, that might be my sound! It has about the
> > right timbre or tone, if you know what I mean.
> > Any suggestions?
> > Al Brase
> > 87 GL, 80 westy, 56 pickup