Before I pull my recently installed transmission... any ideas?, SOLVED! You guys are the best. Options

[jaredmcginness]

Hey guys,

I posted this in my build thread, but I figured I might get some info here.

This is what is happening:
Car shifts into (I believe) every gear while the car is off. Clutch feels like it is engaging fine.
When I turn the car on, the clutch has no affect. Pretty gnarly grind sound if you move towards a gear.

The set up:
-Motor recently installed, fresh rebuild. I used my old trans, old clutch and old flywheel.
All matched originally.
-Fly wheel is true and the clutch has a lot of meat, (9.2mm, iirc)
-Clutch was never separated from the pressure plate.
-Fresh flush and trans fluid

What I've done so far:
-Read the Haynes set up, followed suit.

Chapter 5 faults calls this "Clutch Spring or Drag"
1.Too much pedal freeplay (several adjustments)
2. Splines on main shaft rusty (they are not)
3. Friction plate broken (it is not)
4. Pilot bearing worn maybe

-Adjusted cable end play. (3/4" EP, then more until it was a stiff feel.
-All new shift bushings
-Re aligned shifter. To what i THINK is in each gear. Following Dr. evils specs.


I have never driven a tail shift trans yet, so I am not used to the feel.


Any tips on anything else to check before I pull the trans and check things out inside. It was clean though, and I am pretty sure everything was aligned well and in the splines. It slid right onto the main shaft like butter.

If my throw-out bearing was too worn, I am pretty sure it would be telling me loud and clear.


Thanks! Happy Friday!




(I hope to receive the 2020 Most Questions Asked award this year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif))

[rgalla9146]

Any odd noises in the tunnel when pushing the clutch to the floor ?
.........possible detached guide tube ?

[jaredmcginness]

Any odd noises in the tunnel when pushing the clutch to the floor ?
.........possible detached guide tube ?

No noises. Guide tube brazing is is great shape. When I replaced the floors I noticed that. - for the heck of it I even strengthened it with some new weld so I won’t have to deal with it ever.

I 100% thought the clutch attached the the pressure plate. I bet this is my problem!

I will try to start it in first tomorrow and break it free ... see if it gets me anywhere.


If not I feel that I will be pulling the transmission and prying the clutch off.

[rgalla9146]

Any odd noises in the tunnel when pushing the clutch to the floor ?
.........possible detached guide tube ?

No noises. Guide tube brazing is is great shape. When I replaced the floors I noticed that. - for the heck of it I even strengthened it with some new weld so I won’t have to deal with it ever.

I 100% thought the clutch attached the the pressure plate. I bet this is my problem!

I will try to start it in first tomorrow and break it free ... see if it gets me anywhere.


If not I feel that I will be pulling the transmission and prying the clutch off.

Before removing the trans remove the starter.
Prop the pedal against the floor. Rotate the flywheel so that you can reach
through spaces in the pressure plate to push or pull on the disc.
Give it a try.
Removing the starter first is not wasted effort in any event.
Good luck.
Rory

[jaredmcginness]

Before removing the trans remove the starter.
Prop the pedal against the floor. Rotate the flywheel so that you can reach
through spaces in the pressure plate to push or pull on the disc.

Good luck.
Rory

Rory, you glorious SOB! @rgalla9146 I followed this. Pulled starter, pry bar to turn fly wheel, inserted bar into each of the 6 different spaces to evenly apply pressure against the clutch.

On the 6th pry, the clutch broke free.

All in all this took about 20 minutes. I realigned the shifter. Put it on the ground and it goes into every gear like it has been waiting to!

You guys are the best! Thanks for all this advice!!!