E Force removal for clutch change

[viciousride]

Well I am finally getting around to replacing my clutch. I started around 2:00pm today and worked until 10:00. My goal for today was to get the tranny out. I met my goal but it was not nearly as easy as I expected. I had to pull the blower off the motor to get it to tilt and it still wasn't enough because the headers hit the K member. I know some say that the trans will come out without tilting the motor but I just don't see it happening. I am just going to go ahead and say it. Sorry if I offend anyone but whoever decided to engineer these transmissions with an integral bell housing needs their ass kicked inside out. I would love to be the one to do it! It is a horrible design. If I ever upgrade my trans, I will get one with a separate bell housing. There will be no other option for me. I absolutely dread going back in with it. I may even drop the K member down some to get some clearance. Well any way, it's out after I invented some new curse words. I have some prothane motor mounts on order and plan to put them in this week also. I hope to get this done by the weekend. I usually like turning wrenches on my car but this time it sux.

Oh man, I'm dreading the day I have to replace the clutch! Thanks for the info and pics...I'll need to reference your post when it's my turn.

Good luck with the install and keep us posted!

-Mitch

 

[KDT]

Old clutch is out, new Exedy Mach 600 is in. I also got the cheesy stock plastic clutch line replaced with a braided stainless line from JPC. Attached Thumbnails

 

[KDT]

I lifted the engine up with my hoist, removed the motor mounts, let the motor back down very low near the K member and voila, the trans went in without a fight. Damn, I wish I would have done that to start with. I also cut those stupid useless ears off of the bell housing. That probably helped some too. I'm waiting on some prothane mounts I ordered the other day. Hopefully I will be riding by the weekend.

 

[KDT]

Final update, all finished. I finally got the pinion angle set correctly and everything put back together underneath. I then proceeded onward getting the supercharger back on, fuel lines, electrical connections, and coolant lines reconnected underneath the hood. I ran the car on the jack stands for about 20 minutes to check everything closely and get the coolant tanks properly filled. I then took it out for a road test. I took it up to about 70 mph, and everthing felt great. I can't beat on it until I get the new clutch broken is but I can already tell you that it is a drastic improvement over stock by just driving it easily. The clutch pedal is only slightly heavier than stock. The clutch engagement is smooth, very solid, and predictable. I am very happy with the feel of it. I also like the feel of the car with the new Prothane motor mounts. It's hard to describe. You get a little feedback from the motor but not too much. To sum it up, my car feels more like a Mustang should to me now. The clutch has much more of a performance feel to it and the Prothane mounts just added to it. So far I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Here is little video of the checkout on the jackstands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OUi7-dSu2Q&feature=channel

 

[GlassVapor]

So can we r&r the trans without pulling the blower if we remove motor mounts??

 

[KDT]

So can we r&r the trans without pulling the blower if we remove motor mounts??

I'm not going to say that it can't be done, but it takes less than an hour to have the blower sitting on the table. I just think it's worth it to remove it. The next time I do this, I will remove the blower and motor mounts then drop the engine down. Once you do that, the trans has plenty of clearance. If I would have done that to begin with, I believe it would have been a lot easier.

 

[GT Speeder13]

Nice to see you got it all taken care of Karl! how you been? lol my clutch is still holding up strong but I dont get much grip with my tires lol

 

[KDT]

Nice to see you got it all taken care of Karl! how you been? lol my clutch is still holding up strong but I dont get much grip with my tires lol

Good to hear from you Joey! I haven't seen you post in a while. I was wondering what had happened to you. Oh yea, if you want to keep that stock clutch, don't put your drag radials on! Mine started slipping in no time when I put them on.

 

[GT Speeder13]

Well, I guess I jinked myself... My clutch is starting to go. Im looking at the Exedy line also. Yous said you got the mach 600, but your sig says 500?

 

[KDT]

I had a little issue. I twisted the input shaft in the transmission. the trans is now at Liberty's for a 26 spline upgrade and rebuild. I decided to go back with the Mach 500 instead of the 600 this time. The 500 will "hit" a little softer than the 600 but should still be plenty of clutch for my power level.

 

[66FAIRLANE]

Hello how many miles on your clutch ? How power did you make with this blower ?Thanks

 

[KDT]

I now have around 500 miles on the Liberty built trans and Mach 500 clutch. So far, I couldn't be happier with it. I currently have around 475rwhp and that's with a 3.5" pulley. I plan to go forged before long and take it up to around 550rwhp. If you are wondering what kind of potential of the E Force has, check out this thread. http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53427

 

[96blowncobra]

i took your advice on the mach 500 KDT! so far its a great clutch, just waiting to break it in so i can go make some passes at pageland.

 

[KDT]

i took your advice on the mach 500 KDT! so far its a great clutch, just waiting to break it in so i can go make some passes at pageland.

Let me know when you plan to go to Pageland. I will try to go with you. They opened up last week. I think they are doing test and tune all day on Saturdays right now. I wanted to go last week but I still need a few break in miles myself. I am also still paranoid as hell after all I went through with the trans. Hopefully a couple of passes at the track will get me over it....lol Oh yea, are you going to Pro Dyno next Saturday? I am planning to go if it doesn't rain.

 

[96blowncobra]

haha yea now you have me a little scared of twisting mine.....

 

[KDT]

You certainly have enough ponies to do it...

 

[Chrome61]

Seen this thread pop back up, nothing to ad but I noticed yesterday my stock clutch started slipping on the high side of third gear so I'm getting as much imfo as I can.

 

[KDT]

Seen this thread pop back up, nothing to ad but I noticed yesterday my stock clutch started slipping on the high side of third gear so I'm getting as much imfo as I can.

That's exactly how mine started. Then it just got worse from there. When you go to replace the clutch, hit me up. After pulling out the trans twice, I have it down to a science. The second time I pulled it, I didn't remove the blower. I had the trans on the floor in a couple of hours. There were a few tricks I learned along the way that made all the difference in the world the second time around.

 

[96blowncobra]

Yea I plan on going to pro dyno next saturday if all goes well