Put my 1977 Spider on Jacks. What the heck is this?

[markpink]

Hi.

I bought this car 3 weeks ago and I have driven 350-400 miles on it without a problem. I put the car on ramps this morning and it looks like either the transmission/clutch/drivetrain or something is missing a cover and I can see a large gear.

What the heck is this? Shouldn't there be a cover here. Is my car going to sudden explode(slightly dramatic) any minute now?

Should I drive it until I get what ever is missing?

Sorry about the crappy picture....

[So Cal Mark]

that is the flywheel. There is a tin cover that is sort of non-functional, it just prevents foreign material from getting into the bellhousing/flywheel. It's pretty common to find that plate missing

[mbouse]

your car could explode at any moment... however, prolly not from missing that sheet metal cover. it also could be hit by a meteor sometime in the next three days, but I'm not betting on it.

find someone who is parting out a car, and buy yourself a flywheel cover. next time you jack up the car and change your oil, you can put the "new" piece on.

[markpink]

Well... I might have been right about the exploding...just wrong about the source...

My kids and I took a nice drive yesterday and took a great drive. Great Weather... 70' in New England in October is amazing... Everything worked fine.

I go out and replace a seatbelt.. I finally figured out how.. from my other post and now I did the passenger side. Some parts came in and I put them in the engine area ... air cleaner... rubber pads for the hood... And I go to back out and there is a tremendously loud metal on metal scraping noise.. I am in neutral and the brakes were not being applied. It is coming from the tranmission or rear axel area... I am thinking this car is done for the season... and there is probably alot of work and money ahead... so BOOM goes the car... for now...

thanks


Mark

[ventura ace]

Maybe the seatbelt bolt scraping against the driveshaft??????

Alvon

[markpink]

The one thing I can guarrentee that it is not...I used two of the original holes and bolts. The new bolt was all the way on the side next to the door. It's not that...
but thanks..
Mark

[So Cal Mark]

if the seat belt bolt extends farther into the floor than the original, it will rub on the driveshaft and make noise when the car is moving. Was the car still on jack stands? If so, the driveshaft will hang and rub on the e brake cable mechanism

[markpink]

Alvon,

I apologize. You are so totally correct..

Thanks So Cal Mark as well..

I never in a million years considered the seat belt an issue... I did use a larger bolt that came with the new seatbelt in the original hole..

Took out seat belt... Noise went away and I just drove it around the block a few times without a noise....
Again, I just didn't think..

Although, I will gladly trade public humilation for major damage to my poor little spider any day.....

Gee IF I can't put seat belts in without disturbing the drive train, I think I need to find a local mechanic in the Southern NH area..

thanks all...

[mdrburchette]

Don't give up! We've all done things to our cars that would humiliate us...it's part of the learning process. I'm just glad it wasn't something serious!

[mbouse]

Denise is a strong advocate of this, and so am i...

ALWAYS go back to the last thing you did .. the chances that the new symptom is caused by the last act is generally VERY, VERY good.

i am happy that you found the source of the noise. you dunn havta tell anyone else... just say "WHEW! I fixed it!!"

[ventura ace]

Mark,
No need for apology . . . accepted nonetheless. I'm glad you found the problem, and that it was an easy one to fix. Keep plugging away!

Alvon

[brad131a4]

No no you guys have it all wrong its the flux capacitor and the noise is it's attempt to send the car into the future

[mbouse]

if that future includes a new ABARTH 500 in my garage, i am all for it. Strap me in the passenger seat, and let's go..

[kristoj]

I have had similar issues where I thought some major mechancial catastrophy just occurred, only to find out later it was something simple. My most recent experience happened on the way to Fiat Freak Out, and in a twist of irony, Alvon and Mike Bouse (along with Dave Voss who helped me do the repair) helped figure out my issue as well! On the way to the event, my rear diff started sounding like a garbage disposer with marbles in it every time I took my foot off the gas. I thought for sure my rear end had given up the ghost! The last thing I had done was replace my pinion seal. Sure enough, I hadn't properly staked the pinion nut after tightening it, and it had worked its way loose. After retigtening the nut and properly staking it, the car has run fine since.

So congratulations. I know from experience what a relief it is to find out that your mechanical melt down is actually something really simple

[kristoj]

BTW,

If you want to buy the clutch inspection cover, there is one on e-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Ac ... 06.c0.m245