aj86

2000 XJ with a 96 donor engine in it with 96k on it. Installed engine last fall till I can get the original rebuilt. Engine started to make a tick noise that is way faster than piston slap or the lifter sound. Speed of the ticking does change with RPMs and shifting of the transmission. It doesn't do it all the time but does it a lot. Maybe 50/50 of the time. The sound sounds like it's coming down lower toward the rear. I have check the torque converter bolts and they are where I left them when installed. I plan to go check again for the flex plate being cracked again. I was distracted when I looked at the bolts and forgot. Anyone ever have a cracked flex plate make a real fast ticking sound?

Anyone have any other suggestions or ideas of what I can check to find this sound? Any tests to see if something is noticed or changes? I'm going to check the flex plate again to be sure as it did crack before but I know exactly why and know for a fact that's not the case this time. I do have a video of it but can't figure out how to post it on here.

aj86

Inspected the flex plate. It's definitely cracked again. Is there a vendor who makes higher grade flex plates? This will be the 2nd one in 6 months that cracked on me. This job sucks, especially on your back all day!

bluejeep2001

If flexplates crack at all its because something is wrong. I have had 2 cherokees , both upwards of 300k on each and have never had a flexplate issue. Both stroked about 225k and i think i used the orig flexplate on each one.

aj86

What is the process to make sure things are correct with the alignment of the two married together?

bluejeep2001

Did you drop tranny to install flexplate or remove motor. I have never needed to unbolt flexplate except during an engine change, so maybe it easier to misalign if you only dropped tranny. Where does the flexplate crack...any photos

awg

Is the spare exactly the same dimensions as an OEM part ?

I believe there can be discrepancies

aj86

The first one I put in with the engine when I swapped it. That one failed some time later. I replaced that flex plate by unbolting the engine and transmission and pushing the transmission back about 4-5". Stuck my arm up between them and swapped it that way. Sucked but it was better than pulling the engine again.