[DeTomaso] Stock Flywheel Question- Lesson on Ford numbers!!!

[sean mundy]

Silver lining to all this is that I can now remove and install the clutch by myself in about 2 hours!!   I found a slick way that I support the front of the bellhousing with a nylon tie down strap and the back of the ZF with a floor jack.  I can get the whole deal in the sweet spot pretty easily and don't have to wrestle it around to much to get the input shaft lined up.  Saves my back from more damage.  I also found the crossmember brace bar makes a good tool to leverage the ZF in the final 1/2 inch.   The worst part of the job is the half shaft bolts.   You can't get a socket or a ratcheting wrench on them.  ARRGH!!  
 


Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:39:58 -0400
From: cengles at cox.net
To: seanmundy at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Stock Flywheel Question- Lesson on Ford numbers!!!
CC: detomaso at realbig.com






Dear Sean, 

I have been reading about your misery. I just read Steve L's note where he closed with the advice to be sure to check the plugs and wires, too. 

I would second his suggestion and add that you might also check the timing. My anecdotal tale: I have had a vibration for some time. I thought it was due small imbalance from the ---flywheel and pressure plate!. I had plans to deal with this and I was lucky enough to have an actual expert visit. I asked him to test drive the Pantera and see what he thought. He drove it and quickly said, "whoa, that is detonation!" He said that I had an ignition problem. I was a little skeptical, but ignition puttering is easier than the re balancing plan. 

I checked the timing and it was way off and it wouldn't advance properly when reset. I checked under the distributor cap and found terrific corrosion schmutz. There was more beneath the rotor. I pulled the distributor and had it cleaned and repaired. After reinstallation, vibration was eliminated and all was well. 

The moral of the story: don't underestimate the ignition system for causing problems. 

Warmest regards, Chuck Engles 


---- sean mundy <seanmundy at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ken
> 1. 7 years with car I had no out of the ordinary vibration.
> 2. Needed ZF work done. ZF removed and replaced 2nd gear and synchro. Safety wire ring gear bolts.
> 3. Purchased new Mcleod 3 finger clutch from Pantera Performance
> 4. Resurfaced orginal OEM flywheel
> 5. Reinstall everything
> 6. Start engine. Lots of vibration starting at 2500rpm and stays constant to over 3500. At that point there is so much noise and vibration that its hard to tell if its normal or not.
> 7. Remove everything.
> 8. Had machine shop check flywheel and clutch. They said they removed a few grams but it was basically in balance.
> 9. Reinstall everthing.
> 10. No change, vibration still bad
> 11. Take everything out again and take it to different machine shop. They are confused about the flywheel and don't know how to balance it.
> 12. Decide to put old clutch back in. Old clutch was in pretty good shape (also 3finger type of unknown origin)
> 13. Vibration still exists but reduced about 30% at same rpm. Still very noticeable and annoying.
> 14. Smash thumb with very large hammer to try and deflect the pain I've suffered in previous steps :)
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:11:26 -0700
> From: kenn_green at yahoo.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Stock Flywheel Question- Lesson on Ford numbers!!!
> To: steven.liebenow at att.net; detomaso at realbig.co3m; seanmundy at hotmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sean,
>
> What were the sequence of events? I assume that originally there were no vibration? what else did you change? Did you reinstall the old disk and old pressure plate?
>
> Which Mcleod clutch did you try?
>
> Ken
>
> --- On Thu, 9/23/10, sean mundy <seanmundy at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: sean mundy <seanmundy at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Stock Flywheel Question- Lesson on Ford numbers!!!
> To: steven.liebenow at att.net, detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 11:23 AM
>
>
>
> I put my old clutch back in this weekend and reused the old bolts. The bad vibration I experienced with the new Mcleod clutch is still there but not as severe. It's still very annoying though and its obvious to me that something isn't right. I'm very frustrated at this point. I suppose everyone has gotten to the point where you don't even want to look at your car because it pisses you off.
>
>
>
>
>
> > Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:56:52 -0700
> > From: steven.liebenow at att.net
> > Subject: Stock Flywheel Question- Lesson on Ford numbers!!!
> > To: detomaso at realbig.com; seanmundy at hotmail.com
> >
> > Sean,
> >
> > If you are worried about bolts.....the ONLY ones I would get too excited about
> > would be the actual flywheel bolts, and the clutch pressure plate bolts. I
> > think many of the books have recommended replacing these every time.......but I
> > have reused flywheel bolts many times on my street car with no issues yet, but
> > it lives under 6K rpm's always....... The pressure plate bolts are much smaller
> > and could be argued have more pressure on them...with lots of cycling.....and
> > should be replaced every time....
> >
> > If I find that the lock washers have self destructed, I replace the bolts &
> > washers. Otherwise, they could get re-used also!!!!
> >
> > You did good by bailing out of that machine shop!!! Bubble balance?
> > Really????? The only way I have ever heard of a balance job being performed
> > was on a rotating setup...used for balancing crankshafts...... Not that a
> > bubble balance couldn't tell you if are properly balanced by putting 28.2 oz of
> > weight exactly opposite the counterweight on the front of the flywheel......but
> > machining a flywheel on the rear surface, where you take an equal amount of
> > metal off the entire circular face....shouldn't affect this imbalance figure,
> > save for some minute amount caused by molecular density variances...reeeeeaally
> > small amount that would have very little effect!!!!!
> >
> > Steve
>
> _______________________________________________
>