knocking

hi everyone,

i have a mk2 pinto that i have rebuilt the motor on. anyway the other day i pulled it in off the street back under the car port then the throttle jammed open (engine not run in) and i heard something let go and then when i got it back to idle there was a constant knocking from the rear bottom end. the motor is now out and i have pulled the sump off and inspected the main and big end bearings and they all seem like new still. upon pulling the fly wheel off i noticed that the flywheel bolts were only finger tight (i had done them up tight). could this be the cause of my knocking?? or is there anything i should check before putting the motor back in???

I was at the drags the other week and my mate had a horrible knock after his first run, turned out to be loose fly bolts.

From your report, I would recommend you ensure mating faces of crank to flywheel are perfectly flat and undamaged(bearing-blue plus true-test in lathe), then tightening all NEW bolts evenly(don't use old bolts after what they've suffered), using 'thread-locker' and correctly tensioned with a pro tension wrench.
Ensure threads have not been compromised, or else all the above will be for nought.

Finger-tight IS loose......big time.
See my last recommendation "to the letter" inc Loctite which is a must.
Re your B/shell "some wear" could mean anything..........drop in to your local engine re-builder or Senior mechanic
for a eyes-on opinion.