Heeeeeeelllllllllllppppppppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! - Page 3

Scott S · #41 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 10:45 AM

Do the big blocks use the same sort of thin plate between the block and bellhousing that the small blocks use? If so is that missing?

Scott S

Steve Dickey · #42 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 11:11 AM

Brent,
For what it is worth it, sounded to me like you have two seperate problems going on as I read through this. First, the buzzing. I too think the bellhousing is not centered. Just out of curiosity, do your locating studs have a slot head in them or your bellhousing have a thick locating washer welded on?? Either of those would indicate the bellhousing was likely aligned(properly?). As I believe the bell housing wouldn't likely align to spec without some adjustment. Second, I too have an external slave and an inch sounds like enough throw. But, for what ever reason, you just are not getting enough throw. Is the central axis of the cylinder perpendicular to the clutch arm as it is currently mounted? Or is it cocked? Do you have a lot of play in the pedal that can be adjusted out? I would also re-bleed the line just to rule that out.
Good luck Brent, maybe take a bit of time away from the car and when you go back things will go easier. Steve

RACERAL · #43 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 11:46 AM

Is it possible that a to long of a bolt got put in the wrong place and it is touching the fly wheel ever so slightly......

Brent Mills · #44 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 01:06 PM

David, I figured you'd say that, and I definately can't handle doing it again. I'll have to find someone else to do it because I'm just not cut out for this crap. I'm not usually a negative person, but this whole damn process over the last couple years has just taken every ounce of enjoyment in owning a cobra out of me.

Yes, it was working before.

Scott, it does have the plate sandwiched in there.

Steve, it does have the holes with washer things welded on. I know for certain they did work to it to line it up (can't speak to the accuracy, but I trust them). As for the angle of the slave, it appears to be pretty straight on.

Al, the bolts were all the same sizes, and the sound isn't like grinding I don't think......

wtcobra · #45 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 01:48 PM

Brent- call me 812 477-2355 and I will talk you through it. The noise you are hearing is most likely the throw out bearing or the pilot shaft on transmission is too long, and / or is misaligned. It is something you can repair , believe me, if I can do it, so can you.

Wayne

Edley Rondinone · #46 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 02:14 PM

I would have to agree with David: Take the trans out, check everything, and put it back in (or have it put back in.)

Double Venom · #47 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 04:08 PM

OK,
Brent, deep breath at this point..while your are holding your breath, pop a top, let it all out in one big swish!

I know it is a long, long way, but if you will make up one long, long list of mechanical problems with your car, tape it to the steering wheel, then pat you cobra on the butt as it's loaded into the transporter. Ship it here. Jay and I will go over every thing you list, fix it, kiss it, bend it, straighten it, make it work....no charge Sir. It's the least we can do for what you have done for the Fling.

DV...I'm serious! Now just call in a few favors the shipping company's must owe you!

KobraKarl · #48 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 04:33 PM

WOW,..... DV...... you da man!

Jack Zupan · #49 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 05:15 PM

Brent,

There's a million ideas here and all of them good. I had a similar problem with clutch engagement when I was putting my SPF together. There is a limit to the amount of adjustment you can get out of the slave cylinder and for my car there wasn't quite enough. I went to the clutch pedal and picked up a bit more by lengthening the master cylinder stroke a bit. This involved removing a cotter pin or other keeper and turning the rod out that goes into the master cylinder piston. This gave me a smooth working clutch.

Buzzing sound? Don't know but I work on the theory of one problem at a time.

Good luck,

Jack Z.

Brent Mills · #50 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 06:02 PM

Ok, I'm an idiot!!! I put the friggin clutch disc on backwards and the stupid buzzing noise was the rivets on the clutch disc hitting the damn flywheel bolt heads.... What really hacks me off is that I had the damn thing in there right the first time and couldn't get the transmission to mate to the block (didn't have a tranny jack so I was doing it by hand), so I thought I put the disc in backwards and turned it around and this time I got the thing to mate up relatively quickly, so figured it was all good. I was right the first time!!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

WT, I think I have a handle on it, but I appreciate your willingness to walk me through it. I'll keep your number handy my friend because I'll likely need it.

DV!!! What can I say...Your offer is amazing, and if I didn't decide to jump into this thing earlier today and find the problem, I would be shipping the damn thing to you today!

I think I might be able to get this thing fixed up this week, so I'll hold off for now, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your offer. Thank you.

petek · #51 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 06:56 PM

Brent,

Before I fired up my Cobra for it's first drive (down the driveway and back up), I had convinced myself that I had installed the clutch disc backwards. Why? I don't know. I was just thinking that I didn't remember checking to make sure I was installing the disc properly.

So just to give myself some piece of mind I removed the tranny and inspected the clutch. Turns out that I had installed it correctly and just hadn't remembered checking it.

Figure it's a 50/50 chance. Flip the coin, sometimes it comes up heads, sometimes tails. Very happy to hear that you solved the problem!!!!

PatBuckley · #52 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 07:44 PM

Brent -

Glad it worked out without something drastic being needed!

Pat

Steve R · #53 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:02 PM

OK PEOPLE BREAK IT UP! WE GOT BRENT OFF THE LEDGE, SO GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!

Brent,
Glad to see you back from the brink. good luck.
Steven

Cobra20646 · #54 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:15 PM

Hey Brent..... You're not an idiot Bud....... everyone here who has ever turned a wrinch has done something stupid at least once..... so you're in good company.

The good thing is you have found out your own mistake and are now heading in the right directon once again. Don't let the bumps in the road get the best of you. When something I'm doing seems to be going the wrong way dispite my best efforts to make it right, I find walking away from it for a few hours or more, and going back at it with a fresh attitude seems to help. You'd be surprised how many times the answer has come to me while I'm off doing something else.

Good luck with the rest of the rebuild.

- Jim -

fordsrule@msn.com · #55 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:22 PM

IS it possible that the clutch disk is in backwards?? my 2 cents

KobraKarl · #56 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:30 PM

fordsrule,

...........................maybe................ei ther that or the transmission .

KK

golfnutjetsfan · #57 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:36 PM

Brent I am glad you found the problem and hopefully since misery loves company I'll let you know I had done the same thing a few years ago on an suv I was working on. What should really make you feel better is I am a professional and earn my living (supposedly) not making those types of mistakes. I blamed it on a bad pressure plate and got that sucker out of there before anybody knew what happened. Never, never let the car win. Frank

David Kirkham · #58 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 09:57 PM

Brent,

Don't mean to take any thunder from DV as he is a WAY COOL GUY. We are just a few hours from you and you are welcome to bring the car here as well if you like. Same offer. We have all sorts of goodies and thingy's to make that baby work and would love to help you get it sorted out.

I am sure you could use another set of eyes on your baby as well. I know I am ALWAYS happy to have another mechanic check my work. I am not so dumb as to think I am the best and can't learn from someone else.

Nothing is as cool as waking up at 5:00 on Sunday morning and WANTING to JUMP out of bed to be the first on up the canyon. Your car is way too cool to get upset over. Just a few more hours and you will be on your way.

David

Steve Dickey · #59 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 10:27 PM

Is this forum the best or what?? Steve

Brent Mills · #60 (**permalink**) 07-06-2003, 01:05 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the kind words. It took my neighbor coming over this afternoon and just saying "I've got my grubbies on, lets do this thing". That really helped me get out of that funk I was in, and we tore it apart in a couple hours. Just need to get a new disc, and should be ready to go sometime next weekend.

David, thank you for the offer my friend. You and DV offering all the help is also an inspiration. Think you could put an aluminum body on it while it's there?

Only kidding. I hope to have it ready next weekend, so I don't think I need to ship it there quite yet.

I guess the positive of this is that I'll never get this wrong again.