It started with what felt like some slipping and then a clunk when letting out the clutch. Wasn't all the time, but happening. 1st gear could not be had unless I was moving 3 mph or less.Then 2nd gear started to have problems getting into without grinding unless I shifted very, very slowly allowing the motor to whine down. Then I started hearing clicking coming from the passenger side rear 1/2 shaft. Then shifting became hard period. When grabbing the 1/2 shafts and turning them forward and back while in gear, there was what appeared to be to much play, the drivers side would turn about 1/3", the passengers side a little more. Then came some pretty serious vibrations at anything over 3000 rpm from the rear end, both sides. Check the harmonic balancer, it's fine.
U-Joints are fine and solid.
So I took the ZF out and found the clutch disc lost a spring and had a crack in the housing of the disc. Found the spring lodged in the pressure plate. The Bell Housing, pressure plate and T/O bearing appear to be fine. It's obvious things were out of balance, so I have a feeling this also worked it's way into the ZF. Checked the pilot bearing, it's fine, but replacing it anyway.
McLeod is replacing the disc. They also want to inspect the pressure plate and T/O bearing to be sure nothing is wrong there. Which they will also replace if they feel it's not right. George at McLeod is really a great guy to deal with.
So we will start taking apart the ZF this weekend to find out what going on inside. I have a feeling I am going to find some bearing problems and probably a couple of synro problems. I'm hoping that's all I find. Can't afford much else to be wrong with it other wise it will sit for who knows how long until I can afford to fix it. Specially if it gets into gears or a ring gear.
When the ZF is finally done, I am putting in the new disc, maybe a new pressure plate, a new T/O bearing, Marlins pilot bearing and a aluminum flywheel. I figure there is no point not doing these things while I have it out.
George gave me too great of a deal on the Alum. flywheel to pass up and he's covering eveything else for me. So all I have to sweat at this point is the ZF costs for parts. Those are killer enough. I have the labor covered with a friend that builds custom ZF's for Corvettes. He knows what he's doing and has a first class shop. He's also going to let me watch and learn while he goes through it. He showed me some pretty trick stuff he does to the Corvette ZF's that he builds for racing that makes them even better and stronger, he wants to do the same with my ZF. He may even have some of the parts I may need. We'll see what happens when we get into it next week.
That's about it in my Pantera land......
quote:Originally posted by Mark:
Coz lets start from the beginning. Who, what, were, when, how, happen to your trans?