My trans rattled on decel so I got it opened up. It was mint inside except for one bearing and one shim, which was assembled incorrectly probably at some time when it was rebuilt. I don't recall if it was the wrong shim thickness and/or the wrong placement but what you're describing is familiar.

The shim looks normal, you'll need to measure it to see if its bad or not. It's hard to say what the issue is. If I had the trans in front of me, I'd figure it out in no time. It's hard to diagnose a tranny problem with just a few pics. If all the gears and shafts are fine, it can only be a bearing.

thanks guys! for peace of mind I've decided to order new intermediate shaft and input shaft bearings and replace them while it's open. I've been told either could fail and seeing how I want this fixed I'm just going to do it, then check the tolerances and preload everything except the diff. New flywheel bolts and new clutch disk, hopefully it will be fixed. Will update once I get it back together,

Jim

So the plot thickens, few bearings are now replaced in the transmission, just waiting on getting some shims to get the preloads I wanted.

Last night I decide to take off the flywheel as I wanted to replace the bolts and resurface it for the new clutch disk. here's what I found, I've never seen anything like this before. Good thing I looked. It was an ACT flywheel. I'm guessing a bolt loosened causing this? They were torqued and Loctite when installed with the new engine, but some seem to come easier than others. Either way I'll be ordering a new flywheel now. Crank looks fine, just need to give it a quick brush, looks like some of the material transferred. Bolt holes look fine in the crank.

my guess this definitely was a factor in the noise as well. By the time it's all said and done, I'll have a new flywheel, bolts, clutch, TOB, and tranny bearings with preloads I want. Hopefully she'll be good to go then

Looks like you found the problem. Use some new OEM flywheel bolts, torque to spec and red loctite.

The bolts may not have backed out, they could have been too long or possibly some foreign object got in between the crank and the flywheel when it was bolted up and later crumbled and fell out, leaving it loose.

The flywheel bolts for auto trans. are shorter and there is a spacer ring of sorts in the crank for autos. Unlikely, but be aware in case any parts from an auto were used.

Only thing is now, I have new parts on the way, but this is what my crank looks like as a result

Wow... that is fucked. It's hard to be certain from the pictures, but it appears that there is a decent amount of material missing.

I would be worried about running that rotating assembly without a balancing (though my engine building experience is limited).

Was there a spacer in there at some point?? That looks like it needs to be cleaned up before anything is bolted up there again...... The crank and the flywheel.

No spacer, flywheel was bolted to crank. I don't think this will clean up, there are some pc's of metal that are not flat and one spot has some missing. I'd say the crank is F'd and going to need to be replaced. ugh one thing after another. All that started as a noise and a car running now I'm into quite a few repairs. DSM FTW...

Anyone have a 7 bolt crank in good shape to sell?

I'd clean it up with some sand paper and a grinder.

Just kidding, you definately need a new crank! By looking at the threads, it almost looks like you didn't use red loctite. I also never reuse flywheel bolts.

yea at this point I had cleaned it all up, used some wire brush on the crank end chased the threads to see what I was up against so they look pretty mint, too bad the crank can't say the same :S

Would you not want to install new bearings if you're replacing the crank anyway?

Ziggy can probably help you there.

I'd replace all the bearing affected if I was doing the crank. I need a new crank is the key. Just so happens I have a 2.4L sitting in my garage that's for my colt project, looks like that will be going in the talon for now.

maybe an excuse to build my bottom end now lol