Hi all,
Still working though the car in terms of checking the issues and fixes needed, when taking the car out yesterday with the top down for the first time I heard a rather alarming grind, much like scraping a shovel on a driveway. It seems to happen at low speed and whilst coasting, it doesn't seem to be clutch dependent meaning its probably not a clutch release bearing issue. Due to the fact that it seems to be whilst coasting this seems to point to the input shaft bearings as it doesn't seem to be gear dependent either (although will check later today).
I didn't notice the noise when I collected the car yesterday when the engine was cold, you also can't really hear it with the roof up, only with the roof down I noticed the issue.
I thought initially that it was engine related, thinking it might be an issue with the VVTi or the timing chain, however the noise seems to be more over to the left hand side of the engine bay - so it can't be the cams or chain as the noise is at the wrong engine of the engine!
Anyway, here are a few options I think it might be:
Rattling heat shield that resonates at a certain RPM
Clutch release bearing
Clutch plate
Gearbox input shaft bearings
LSD failing on decel
Having a read up I recon its probably the input shaft bearings, I am going to be changing gearbox fluid soon anyway (need to get a pump), will start the car up again this morning when its cold to see if its still making a noise - my thinking is that the gearbox was up to temp yesterday when I got back home meaning the oil was hotter and thinner.
I guess my options if it is the gearbox is:
Get a good used 6 speed spyder box and swap it out
Find a transmission shop that can take the box out and rebuild
Get a good used 6 speed non spyder box (from a different model without LSD) and not worry until I swap out the engine
Just taken the car out again and it seems that the noise is slightly intermittent, might point to a heat shield or a rattling exhaust, previous owner has told me that there was an exhaust rattle due to a perished hanger which has been replaced, I have also noticed that the undertray is held on with cable ties and part of one corner seems to contact the exhaust on the driver side - will continue to investigate.