Horrible engine noise

[ChriS7ven]

Hello, after one of my first run with my Elan +2 for Christmas. My engine started to make a horrible rubbing noise that came gradually and louder and then the car stopped.... "Merry Christmas"

Today I took off the rocker cover to look at the timing chain which seems to be in good condition, with the correct tension.
However, the chain seems to be too close to the engine block and it rubs the block at the cylinder head junction.
Here are some pictures. When do you think?
An idea of the problem?

Please don't give me too serious news because I just got my car back after two years of litigation with my insurance company which broke the car on the assistance truck ...

[alan.barker]

Hi Chris,
are you in Club Lotus France. Do you do the work yourself on the Engine or not.
If not then i suggest you join Club Lotus France and see if someone in the Club lives in your region.
The Club Lotus France have some nice people ready to help.
Alan

[nmauduit]

sorry to read that : at first glance it seems that the chain started to eat alloy then got jammed, after that the chain tensioner got loose... I would not chance fixing that with the engine in the car, so this won't be cheap if you get it done. Circumstances would also impact the fix (how long was it run making noise, with increasing chances of metal particles traveling into the engine...), what happened when it got jammed (if while idling statically of at full throttle on the road could induce very different outcome)...

[HCA]

Something has given I am afraid.

Where in the Var are you? I quite fancy a few days break and considered Aix the other day - are you nearby?

[Robbie693]

Difficult to tell in the pics but is it not that the chain has caught the head to timing case cork gasket? As for why I couldn't say but maybe something is out of alignment. The wear marks on the chain look uneven though...

Robbie

[vstibbard]

I've not read all replies but my guess would be the spacer between the jackshaft and gear is missing !! I'm not sure but there is a possibility the crankshaft gear maybe incorrect as it has more offset of TC than std ford pre/crossflow part.

I've not got a manual handy, maybe someone could post relevant image.

V

[2cams70]

You haven't provided enough information to draw any conclusions. It's normal for the chain to run close to the head in that location. Is it possible to turn the engine over by hand with spanner on the crankshaft pulley bolt?

[alan.barker]

I would not turn it over.
Engine needs to be removed and dismantled. Don't risk more damage.
Alan

[rgh0]

The chain is located fore / aft by the position of the cam sprockets and the crank sprocket.

The cam sprockets in the head position is fixed by the thrust collar in each cam and the slot in the head. If these have worn or the cam sprockets come loose then the chain could move forward and hit the front cover.

The crank sprocket position is fixed by the crank and it could have moved on the crank if the front pulley is loose or the crank could have moved forward if the rear thrust bearing that takes the clutch throw out loads on the crank centre main bearing has failed.

As suggested by others I would remove the spark plugs and see if I could turn the engine slowly by hand and try to observe what is not working. After that its just a question how much dismantling to investigate, identify and correct the problem will be required

cheers
Rohan

[2cams70]

I would not turn it over.
Engine needs to be removed and dismantled. Don't risk more damage.
Alan

If the engine made a noise and then just stopped you won't do any further damage attempting to turn it over by hand. The inertia of the spinning mass of parts in the engine plus the flywheel and clutch suddenly being stopped by some kind of mechanical obstruction will have caused far more damage than you could ever do trying to turn it over by hand! Use some common sense though. If the engine is firmly locked and won't rotate do not try and force things. Attempt to rock the crankshaft both clockwise and anticlockwise and observe what happens

[alan.barker]

I would at least remove the Head.
So no contact Pistons Valves can happen.
One Hour work and Head will be off.
Alan

[ChriS7ven]

Hello everyone and thank you for your quick answers.

So I removed the spark plugs and turned the engine slowly by hand.
And now I wonder if it's really the chain?
The noise seems to come more from the middle of the engine and the coolant is going up on the cylinder head...
Could a simple cylinder head gasket make so much noise?

The car did not heat up, and to answer the questions:

I must have driven about a kilometre before the engine stalled. At that point the engine wouldn't start.
When I came back with another car to tow the Lotus, the engine had to be restarted, but I stopped the engine immediately because of the noise.

To answer HCA, I'm near Fayence, it's about 2 hours from Aix.

[2cams70]

Did you try rocking the crankshaft left and right? If you find there's a significant "dead zone" between turning clockwise and anticlockwise where you feel there's little resistance it's possible you have a broken crankshaft. It's possible the flywheel has detached itself too. Remove the bellhousing lower inspection cover and take a look at what the flywheel is doing whilst rotating the engine. Put a rod down each spark plug hole until it contacts the piston and see that each piston is going up and down as it should. Do a compression test. A valve seat could have dropped out of the head and a compression test will reveal this.

Through a process of elimination you will identify the cause

[alan.barker]

Soo many possible problems and without Head removed difficult to say.
Once the Head is off you should get a clear picture. If Head is good after removing then you move on to removing the rest of the Engine.
If you don't mind me asking but do the have the habit to work on "Twinks". If not get someone in the Club to have a look who is used to working on them.
Do you have a Workshop Manuel.
Good luck
Alan

[2cams70]

It's not necessary to remove the head at this early stage of identifying the cause.