Clutch Help

[kaelus]

Hi there,

Ok this is the story. A few months ago I purchased a 1988 GT Lift back. My mechanic (family friend) assured me all it needed was a new clutch and some basic fluid changes. Well problem is he's gone MIA, after a long hassle to finally get the car in my name and make sure all the legality was settled.

So my currently daily driver is dying (crappy fords) and i want to switch over to the GT. Problem is I need to change the clutch (completely spun it wont go into gear no matter what) Engine starts fine, runs strong worked for a lil bit before I spun it completely.

So the question is for a clutch change, what Parts should I need. I have a chiltons (not real good on mechanics i'm learning as I go along) and what i've read from this site and other sources I think I need.

-Clutch
-pressure plate
-clutch release bearing

Anything else i'm missing or you guys can possibly suggest? Appreciate any help. Hopefully i'm not too clueless and explained correctly

-Kaelus

Thank you for any help!

[4thgenceli]

Did the clutch blow? Or did you spin a bearing? Just never have heard it put that way before.
Before you spend the time/money on a clutch..like I did.. check the clutch slave cylinder. The resivoir is right in front of the driver's seat.. in the engine bay(sorry.. can't really describe where it is). Check that and make sure it's full of fluid(brake fluid) and check the cylinder for any leaks or anything. The cylinder is in the front of the engine, on the front of the tranny. Looks like a little linear acutar. Sorry if that's too general... but I can't really describe where it's at.. I can show you...

Clutch change Yep... clutch... plate.... bearing... GREASE!!!(hi-temp) and tranny fluid.

[4thgenceli]

Here you go.. here's a quick pic of where the slave cylinder is(roughly).

[kaelus]

Well this is what happened. It was revving really high like 2500, to about 3k rpms before the clutch would fully engage (very slow off the line).

I was driving to a friends house one day (trying to get used to and learning the manual still). So I stop to get gas (it's low) and i ease it out (being very gentle babying it because i was told by my mechanic that it will spin soon) I can tell it's getting worse and worse yet I get a stoplight (this is a hill and i'm going up). I smell smoke and now i Hafta rev up to 3.5k or higher to get it going ..takes FOREVER to accelerate. I keep going, and almost get to my friends house and I suddenly start losing speed I rev higher and still no speed until finally my car won't go.

It revs fine but will NOT engage nada nothing no gears tried em all. So i tell my mechanic and he tells me I officially spun my clutch . So I tow it home and there it sits sadly

Like I said i'm not really good with cars but i'm learning.
I was under the impression that i killed my clutch, but il'l try what your saying I have a chilton's so i'll use that as a guideline.

I found this link www.radcastro.com/Projects/Project+ST2GT4/471.aspx

wondering what out of it is of use (it's a 5th gen ...)..Anyhow maybe that will help more. Sorry if it's incoherent i'm at work and in a little bit of a hurry

[kaelus]

Ok kewl ok now that i know where it is i'll check it out and make sure it's ok and not leaking, or anything. (the slave cylinder).

Will hafta wait till I get home however.
Damn work ruining all my plans.

[kaelus]

Ok checked the slave cylinder it was clear of anything tha tlooked like it would be leaking...so i think it's ok. Checked two resevoir's(sp) both had fluid in em....didn[t look leaky....so that could only mean a bearing or the clutch rite?...(i'm assuming the clutch..it slipped ALOT)...

[farqy]

the clutch is a bit of a pain because to swap it out, you pretty much HAVE to remove the whole engine and tranny. fortunately, because these cars were designed to have a turbo on some of them, there is lots of room to remove it...

Once the engine and tranny is out, it is a few bolts to separate them, and the clutch is super easy to replace. The lifting is the hard part. But the engine and tranny together don't weigh much more than three hundred pounds, I used a come-a-long in a tree to pull mine, and the branch is still alive!

[kaelus]

Heh, that's what i hear, fortunately my friend has tools and an engine hoist! w00t...though gonna be hot this weekend. (that's the plan to do it) he's also got an easy up lol (outside sadly) w000 i hope this goes according to plan..or at least near plan.