Help, somethings wrong with my Mom's Cobra

[IgottaV8]

Ok, so here's the story. I get in the car and drop the top down, I go to start it, and right when the engine starts, I hear a clang, or bang of some sort, and all of a sudden the whole car vibrates in tune of the engine, it still runs though. I think that the balancing weight on the driveshaft might've flown off, but I want to be sure. I told my mom not to drive it until we figure out what's wrong. Any suggestions on what to do, or where to take it to get checked?

 

[yosemiddysam]

Well it is not the drive shaft if the car is setting still. Maybe the harmonic balancer went bad......

 

[yosemiddysam]

Maybe they should stop letting you drive it lmao.....Just kidding

 

[Soliz53]

Well it is not the drive shaft if the car is setting still. Maybe the harmonic balancer went bad......

i agree check the balancer

 

[wickedstangs]

in 98 the cobra had a problem with the valve train going bad. Did you hear the noise coming from the engine bay?

And yes your mom need to stop lending you the car

 

[orange395w]

The infamous "rod knock" strikes again?

 

[IgottaV8]

I don't remember where the sound came from. Is there a place that you reccomend that we go to, to get it checked out?

 

[wickedstangs]

Is there a place that you reccomend that we go to, to get it checked out?

OMG's I can't believe you ask these question Ummmm Modular Motor

Dante Modular Performance sound like a good place to try :rofl:

There are many other places... How about you try and find where the noise is coming from its cheaper.

 

[BadBullitt]

Is there a special tool that I need in order to tighten the Harmonic Balancer, or can I just use a Torque wrench?

 

[yosemiddysam]

Well to tighten it I normally use an air gun on full blast..... I would really inspect the balancer for any kind of imperfections like dry rotted rubber and such. If it is in fact the balancer causing a noticeable vibration, most of the time you can see it wobbling.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Bobby does the 98's have reversed threads on the bolt? I can not remember.....

 

[IgottaV8]

I don't think that it is the balancer. I have no Idea though. I have no idea where anything on these engines are. So I don't know what to look for. Can anybody help me?

 

[boostedmach]

If i had a car i'd come over, but pop the hood, look at the bottom of the engine, and where the belt goes around the crank pulley...have a look at it and see if every thing looks alright, or u can start it up, and look at it...see if its moving around. Its kinda a cheap setup from stock...its pressed on with rubber...let me know

 

[Tommy]

Ethan, just look towards the lower pulley as the engine is idling. If you see some wierd wobling movement that is likely the balancer

 

[yosemiddysam]

The harmonic ballencer is the pulley that is connected to the crank shaft at the bottom of the engine.......

 

[IgottaV8]

Ok, I'll go look

 

[IgottaV8]

Well, I start it, and after a little bit it starts shaking. and if I go back behind the car, it sounds like it's detonating. So what do you think it is.

 

[yosemiddysam]

Did you look at the balancer?

 

[sdsubzero4]

you said the balancer was shaking? I think that's a problem.

 

[IgottaV8]

No, I don't see the balancer shaking. It all looks fine to me