TKO600 clutch

elmariachi · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 10:03 PM

You guys really know how to keep a guy up at night wondering if he used the right bolts and got them tight. I have a 427 FE/TKO 600 with a McLeod 11" clutch and 11" PP setup from Brent Lykins, along with a Fidanza aluminum flywheel. The McLeod PP came with 5/16ths grade 8 bolts, and McLeod said to mount them with blue Loctite and NO washers, so that's what I did. I checked them as a result of this thread and they are muy bueno.

Great Asp, I have noticed that a speed shift from 2nd to 3rd with my TKO 600 is dicey. I am hoping its just me getting used to the narrow entry gate. I may give myself one of Brent's Steeda TKO shifters as a Christmas present. He tells me it'll make me shift like Don Prudhomme.

blykins · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 04:44 AM

Thanks to Patrick and Rodger for bird-dogging all of this. It's all very good information and that's what makes this site worth-while. I will be sure to take all of this into consideration with the next aluminum flywheel combo that I sell.

Great Asp, I can set you up with a new clutch kit, custom for your application, wants, and driving style. Just shoot me an email and we can talk at length about it.

elmariachi.....I won't make any promises. Wait, does Don Prudhomme even shift during a run?

lovehamr · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

Wait, does Don Prudhomme even shift during a run?

Not since about 1968!

patrickt · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

The McLeod PP came with 5/16ths grade 8 bolts, and McLeod said to mount them with blue Loctite and NO washers, so that's what I did.

They provided their own fasteners? Do you happen to remember whether they were shouldered bolts? The only reason they would specify no washers would be to increase the fastener depth (which would seem to indicate they are aware of the issue

). It would be nice if someone with a Fidanza aluminum flywheel could measure the depth of the shoulder hole and post it. From the factory, did Ford PPs come with washers under the PP bolts?

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

You guys really know how to keep a guy up at night wondering if he used the right bolts and got them tight.

Here's something to think about while you're not sleeping... I'm advised that, from the factory, FE pressure plate bolts had washers under them. I'm further advised that both ARP and Mr. Gasket replacement OEM PP bolts are both shouldered and come with washers (and that includes the "good" ARP bolts and the "great" ARP bolts). I am also told that the McLeod Street Pro plainly says that it "uses stock pressure plate bolts," which are not included. The Super Street Pro says that it "includes pressure plate bolts." The RST and RXT Installation Instructions specify the use of "your stock pressure plate bolts." Nowhere on their forums, installation instructions, or web site do they discuss the use of a shouldered PP bolts. I'm betting that, for them to provide you with PP bolts and to specify that you NOT use washers, those bolts not only are not shouldered, but probably have dubious thread depth as well. The only way you'll know for sure is to pull one of them out and look at it. You should be able to tell from the caked goo on the thread how deep they were in, but if not, a little dye would answer that question. Spotting the shoulder (but I bet there isn't one) will be really easy. Sleep tight.

elmariachi · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

They provided their own fasteners? Do you happen to remember whether they were shouldered bolts? From the factory, did Ford PPs come with washers under the PP bolts?

Yes, they supplied 5/16"-18, 3/4" in length, no shoulders. Steve Christ's rebuild book references bolts and lock washers in the clutch reassembly process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm betting that, for them to provide you with PP bolts and to specify that you NOT use washers, those bolts not only are not shouldered, but probably have dubious thread depth as well. The only way you'll know for sure is to pull one of them out and look at it.

I removed one and it appears that the bolt was threaded into the flywheel a tad under 1/2". All six of them very tight when I checked them. I think changing bolts is a bit of overkill for my street application but what would be the ideal bolt??

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

I removed one and it appears that the bolt was threaded into the flywheel a tad under 1/2". All six of them very tight when I checked them. I think changing bolts is a bit of overkill for my street application but what would be the ideal bolt??

Honestly, I wouldn't touch them. I have heard of every type of driveline failure there is in Cobras. U-Joints, Transmissions, Differentials, Rear Ends, even twisting axles so that the white line on them looks like a barber's pole. I have never heard of pressure plate bolts shearing off. Coming loose and falling out? Maybe... but not shearing off.

patrickt · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:23 AM

... but if you're really worried about them you could always safety wire them to the bell housing.

elmariachi · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

... but if you're really worried about them you could always safety wire them to the bell housing.

HA!!! I beat you to it! I am already taking them out and cross-drilling the boltheads to accept the safety wire. See, I am learning the Club Cobra way.

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

HA!!! I beat you to it! I am already taking them out and cross-drilling the boltheads to accept the safety wire. See, I am learning the Club Cobra way.

If you only used one single piece of safety wire, and ran that single piece through all six bolts, going around the circumference of the pressure plate, and did all of that by only working through the fork hole, you should receive the "Club Cobra Inspirational Achievement Award."

patrickt · #11 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Yes, they supplied 5/16"-18, 3/4" in length, no shoulders.

Ford OEM bolts (Mr. Gasket & ARP, too) are 5/16"-18 x 1" -- but they're going to have the shoulders on them. If those shoulders bottom out in to your flywheel then your pressure plate is not going to be tight no matter how hard you torque them down. If you have half an inch of thread grip on a 5/16" bolt, I'd leave it alone. I really would like an answer though from McCleod on exactly what it is they're doing with their bolts.