Ok, Pulled the engine out of my 84 today. I took the pressure plate off to reveal the flywheel...Well, its all "spotted". I guess is the best way to decribe it. It kinda looks like oil splattered over it or something, but it doesnt wipe off. When the engine was in the car, the clutch was slipping, but when we pulled it, it had enough meat left that it shouldnt have been slipping...I dont know what to do. There are no groves, so I was thinking maybe just resurface it, but then how do I get the nut back on? I can get it off just fine...Also, someone has had this engine out before and they didnt know what they were doing because the pilot bearing was missing ALL of the needle bearing roller things, its just the casing in there, and the little seal that goes in front of the bearing was gone. PLUS, the flywheel nut has marks from a screwdriver and hammer trying to take it off. At first I thought myself to be lucky thinking that they never got it off, but then I noticed that the washer that is supposed to be under the nut is gone. So now Im kinda concerned about what all has gone on in this engine...Anyway, sorry for the long post. Heres a quick summary of my main questions:

1. Should I have the flywheel resurfaced and how much do you think it will cost?

2. Any tips on how to uninstall/install the pilot bearing and seal?

3. Do I have to have that washer?

4. How do I get the damn nut back on if I take it off to get the washer on/flywheel resurfaced?

Thanks.

~T.J.

 

1. Yes. The spots are heat marks, I bet they alternate from black to blue?

2. Buy the expensive puller, modify a cheap puller, or just grind the race out.

3. I don't suppose its mandatory, I've only had one out of about 10 of my engines, none of my flywheels have come off

4. Installation is the reverse of removal. Torque that thing to 250-300 ft.lbs, or impact the **** out of it with an impact gun.

 

1. What shape is the pressure plate in?
2. Rent a pilot bearing removal tool.
3. An 84 motor doesn't have a washer.
4. How do you plan on removing it? Put it back on the same way you get it off.

 

Well, I plan on putting it back on the way I took it off, but how do I know that its tight enough? I have a torque wrench and I could use the manuals description of the 3 foot bar and set the wrench to 100 ft/lbs, but does that really work, and is it that easy? Also, the flywheel is in decent shape, other than the marks, there are no groves or anything, and it looks good in general, just the marks is all. Also, is there really no washer on an 84?? That seems kinda weird, but then again...a lot of this seems really weird .

~T.J.

 

Oh, and it doesnt matter what shape the pressure plate is in, I have a new one . Along with all new bearings . But the old one looks the same as the flywheel, spotty. Also, I think I'm gonna buy a front and rear seal kit for the tranny, its only $11 at RB, and I need to order my exhaust anyway, might as well throw it in there, but how hard is it to put in?

~T.J.

 

I chiseled my pilot bearing casing out with small chisels...very carefully!. I just took my time. If you nick the inside of the shaft, you'll deform the surface just a tiny bit, and the new bearing won't push in easily. It does'nt press in easily as it is, and it's soft! Get it perfectly clean in there, and line the pilot bearing up just right before using a piece of plastic or wood against it, and tapping that with small blows of a little-bitty hammer.

Use hi-speed grease...just a little.

Becareful not to squish that bearing and seal upon installation.

A new pressure plate should give the necessary thickness.

My 85 12A had no washer.

I stood on a 30" long (from the nut) bar, and I wiegh 200 lbs.
My thought was that 30 inches (2.5 ft) x (200 lbs) would be 500 ft-lbs of torque [way more than enough.]. I did'nt conciously put that much effort into an equasion for deciding the length of pipe I used on the breaker...It just happened to be all I could get.

You'll have to whack that flywheel all around the perimeter with a very heavy rubber mallet to break it free from the tapered shaft. Take your time ...Don't get tired and frustrated and make mistakes like hitting the gear ring on the outside (remember, I just went through this because mine came off by itself!).

Remember that two of the six pressure plate bolts are different. These need to be used in specific holes on the flywheel. (Should be in the instructions that came with yer new plate.)

Tighten them like a wheel...Torque a little at a time in an 'every other one' pattern.

Don't get ANY oil or grease on the clutch. (Not as easy as it sounds when you're under there!)

That's all I know from my one and only clutch job.

 

I always use a flathead screwdriver, and pry it in there, and bend the bearing inward and remove with needle nose pliers.

You dont have a washer on yours nor need one.

And go get you a 3/4" impact, I think you said you got air power already Man it will make life better on anything you do on a car

 

Go rent the pilot bearing removal tool, you will thank yourself a hundred times over when it takes you thirty seconds to get it out instead of an hour of hard work twisting, pulling, and prying. Once you get the new one in you can feel free to use a healthy dab of wheel bearing grease on it (the seal is there to do its job, give the grease a chance to lube the bearing properly).

A decent 1/2" impact is all you need to take the nut off, plus you'll get more use out of it on other projects than you would a 3/4". When you get the nut off, thread it back on the shaft about 5 turns then use a 2lb sledge to remove the flywheel from the taper. It will ring like a bell when you hit it so ear protection should be worn. One hit right inside the ring gear will take it off in a hurry.

 

Thanks guys. Yeah Mike, I have air. I also have the wrench and socket . I took the flywheel off the 83's engine so I could tear into the engine to see how it worked, so Ive done that before, I just skipped the pilot bearing part, and I never worried about getting the nut back on. Ok, well I think Ive got it now. All I need to do is get down there and do it .

~T.J.