82 FI 2.0 starting trouble and engine bearing issue- i think

[BammBamm]

So I have seriously caught the spider bug. i bought my 82 as a non running car. The PO messed everything he touched up. I bought a recently rebuilt 79 engine and transmission. I used the rebuilt short block with a FI head from ebay. Put it all together and it ran great. Although after a few days of running it kinda had a bearing howl that was coming from the back of the engine. After it warmed up the noise went away. The original transmission started leaking oil, so i pulled it to replace it with the other tranny. That went fine and i rebuilt the drive shaft too. But now the engine sounds like it has alot of resistance when trying to start and it wont start. before pulling the tranny the engine would fire up on the first start. The starter seems to be spinning the engine too slow. When it first spins it will spudder a little but then slows down and will no longer fire. I changed the starter but the same result. I checked the injector pulse and spark are both good. the engine is spinning so slow that the air flow meter flap is flapping. The rebuild short block didnt leak oil so I didnt check the bearings. Nor did i pull apart the cam bearings. When i hand crank the engine it feels like it always has. How do i figure out where the resistance is coming from? do I have to pull the cam box? Do i need to pull the center shaft on the other tranny so I can install it and the starter to verify the issue is with the transmission? I dont think its the tranmission related since the i had similar sounds. But the second tranny made it more noticeable. I also thought about pulling the spark plugs just to listen while starting.. I am open to all suggestions...

[azruss]

check your grounding strap. sounds like a weak connection.

[BammBamm]

Is there a method to help determine if there is a bad bearing in the engine?

[vandor]

> Is there a method to help determine if there is a bad bearing in the engine?

Yes, remove the oil pan (not easy) and check them visually. Use plasti-gage to check the bearing clearances.

I would try an additional engine to body ground cable first, tho. Universal cables are available at most auto parts stores, just get one where both ends are made to have a bolt go through them.

[BammBamm]

I thought i had to pull the engine or crossmember to remove oil pan

[FiatMac]

Put it all together and it ran great. Although after a few days of running it kinda had a bearing howl that was coming from the back of the engine. After it warmed up the noise went away.

So the howl occurred on start-up but went away with some time. Is it possible that the starter solenoid was hanging up and leaving the starter engaged? This will result in a "howling" noise but I don't think the starter would last long in that situation. I have had this happen before but immediately shut down the engine. Many times on a second attempt things would work right, but eventually had to replace the starter.

[vandor]

I thought i had to pull the engine or crossmember to remove oil pan

No, just unbolt the motor mounts and lift up the engine. Still a PITA, as you have to undo the oil pump and breather tube as the pan is hanging donw a few inches.

[BammBamm]

So i figured out the why it wouldnt start. I was a loose wire off the FI relay in the car. I started going through the wiring check procedure and then it started. It still doesnt sound quit right when it starts but the engine is now running better than before.. This car has been a challenge. The next engine I will build completely so I wont have these questions,

[So Cal Mark]

so why is it cranking so slowly and has a noise in the engine if just the FI relay had a loose wire?

[BammBamm]

That part im not so sure about. I threw in another starter and it seemed to crank better. The noise has changed to just when it first starts and then sounds better than it ever has before. It makes the same sound when I had just a tranny bell housing and stater mounted. Im going to run it awhile and see what happens.