The Arctic winter broke briefly today here, with temps near 60 for the first time since late October. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/boldblue.gif) So, Stef came over and we put the new clutch and trans in. First I went to turn the lights on in the shop. . . nothin? So I open the giant double doors to the Great Midwest NARP Assembly Building, and I see something odd (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif) Boy, I don't remember that bank of floresent lights leaning up against my tool box. . . .

Ya know, I bet they used to be attached to that strand of romex hanging right there. . .

Which means they probably bounced off the V8 right about. . . . . there. . . . . DOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

Well, maybe it is just a bad scuff. Yeah, that's it, a scuff. Lets get a look at it from the other side. No, no. That is a nice, sharp, 3/4" deep FRIGGIN' DENT!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/chair.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/barf.gif)

I hate when that happens!!

OUCH! i had a cabinet fall off the wall once, landed two inches from my car. YIkes.

Oh well. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smoke.gif) I'm calm now. Car needs paint pretty damn bad anyway. I guess I'll just have to get to it a little sooner than I planned. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) Waddayagonnado.
Blew all the white power from the broken floresent tubes off, and got to work. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)

First the new clutch. Stage 3 from KEP. Lookin' good (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/boldblue.gif)

Sorry to hear about the scuffle---but the rest looks sweeeeet!!

I took a die grinder and opened up the throw out fork hole in the bell housing a little bit, and the new Stage 3 p plate actually had a slightly shorter hat than the Stage 2 I took out, giving me plenty of free play, solving my travel problem without having to bend the arm as suggested by Kennedy as a possible solution. (Thanks again for the info "Rich the Lurker") (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)

Then the new & improved tall gear trans install. I just put the little bastard on my chest and sort of bench pressed it into place with Stef sitting at the ass end of the car guiding into the appropiate spot. (Insert your own joke HERE. . . . .) Went in surprisingly easy. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)

But now for the Hmmm (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif) part. Started the car up....vrooooom. Damn, I missed that sound. Went to put in into gear, wont go. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif) Tried 1st & reverse, grinds bad. Clutch felt pretty lose. No surprise. Tighten her up, try again. . . .same damn thing. Hmmmmm. Turn engine off, try to put into gears, VERY tight, but with some effort, finally goes into all gears with car off, but not really easy. Try RedBeard's linkage adjustment proceedure, a little better but not much. Start it up, still won't go into any gear without grinding. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

By that point it was time to rejoin the family back inside the ranch, so I had to call it a day in the shop. I will call Brad Mayuer tommorow and see what he thinks, but I get my best advise here, so, (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/pray.gif) whadaya guys think??? Any ideas? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)

Is the shift rod hitting something?

QUOTE (McMark @ Mar 6 2005, 08:43 PM)

Is the shift rod hitting something?

No. The rod is the same one that has been in the car for a couple years now, and worked fine. I was wondering though. Is it possible to screw up the alignment of the rods even if the cone screws are in the right place? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

Man, sorry to hear about the light falling on the car. Bummer.

As for the shift linkage, I can't help you. Only thing I could suggest is the presence of anti-freeze sitting around. Waydddady need that shit for?

Oh yeah, right - I get it now. Damned wasser-pumpers.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

You're close by (relatively). Might have to meet up sometime.

Later,
Tom

I had that problem, but I think mine was a little different. First off, I didnt have to grind anything on my shift fork. I did however have to remove the washer from behind the shift fork ball. Once that was out I had full travel of my clutch. It sounds to me that you are not engaging your clutch enough to shift into gear. I would start there. Make sure you use the correct throwout bearing. They are different from the 4 bangers. You have the same clutch I have and that is what I did. The problem I had with gear changing was the linkage was hitting on the engine cross bar. Limiting the movement. Also, check to make sure all of your linkage bushings are in really good shape. I put in all new and its a little tight but I think I can adjust it out. Sorry to hear about the light mishap. That would really upset me. Kind of like when I went to grab something off the top of the car and the Makita 9.6 volt screwgun fell and put a nice dent in the top of the door. It hurt. Pissed me off too. Good luck with it. I am sure it is just an adjustment.

Chris,

Did you have the clutch disc off the flywheel when you changed the pressure plate?

I was thinking the disc may have stuck to the flywheel side over the winter.

Try putting the car into gear and stepping the clutch in and see if the car will roll.

Sorry to hear about your damage. If I lived closer I'd help you fix it.

How much was the stage 3 clutch package?

I need to get a new clutch for mine (Its letting go at above 1/2 throttle... NOT GOOD.. lol)

Scott, do you know EXACTLY what clutch/pressureplate/flywheel I have??

A rule of thumb
If it can shift with the motor off, its in the clutch.
Don't dismiss the possibility of a bad (new) preasure plate.
Update !!
Cheers
Joe


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smoke.gif)

The PP was I think, the clutch I dont think so...

That is the way it came. I never used it and it was all together. So I was just assuming it was all one matched unit.

Thanks for the condolences and the flying lights guys. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif) In the relative scheme of stuff that has happened to others around here lately, it is easier to put it into perspective. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/monkeydance.gif) The farmer that we bought the place from used nails to hold them up, which aint gonna cut it in a building that sees 130' temperature swings every year. The new lights will be put up with screws.

The p plate and the disk are brand new, and the fly was just resurfaced, with all being installed yesterday, so they can't be frozen/locked up. The throw out is not new, but is the correct Kennedy part with only about 3000 miles on it, and moves smoothly and quitely. The bushings are less than 2 yrs old throughout the entire trans linkage including the little one that goes in the hole where the bar goes through the bracket at the trans end.

I just spoke to Brad Mayuer, and he made a very good point. If the trans is grinding, no matter what else may or may not be wrong, the clutch is not releasing properly. If the clutch was disengaging, then nothing in the trans should be turning. Soooooo, maybe the clutch needs to be tightened a bit more. It seemed pretty darn tight to me, but I have a history of being wrong on that question. I'm going to try starting the car with the clutch in, and then see if I can get it into gear. If not, I will tighten it a bit more. It also occurred to me that when I had the fly checked for warping, they cleaned it with a scotch brite pad to remove the blueing from the fly. It left the surface with a tiny bit of texture, almost like a bead hone. I wondered at the time if that might cause the clutch to grab. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

Andrew, the Stage III p plate and stock 228mm Sachs disk from Kennedy cost me about $300. I don't recall the exact price because they gave a discount on the p plate (long and unimportant story), then nicked me $9.00 for 2 "shorter head bolts" to hold my throw out tube that appear to be identical to the bolts I can get for .19 at Farm & Fleet, and then they had a little trouble getting it out to me, so we agreed to split the cost of overnighting it. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool_shades.gif) So, I don't recall the specific prices with out looking at the invoice, but I would say $325 is probably the normal price for the p plate & disk.