Broken plastic piece on bellhousing. What is it?
 

I just bought my first 7 a couple of weeks back. Its a completely stock 88 FC3S SE NA with a manual. I noticed that my clutch was slipping in 4th and 5th so I decided to replace it. I pulled the transmission and when I got it out from underneath the car, I noticed something laying in all the greasy muck in my bellhousing. I picked it up and cleaned it off. It looked as if broke off something. I started looking for where it came from and noticed this plastic spacer thing directly in line with where the starter would be and on the very edge of the bellhousing where it mates to the engine. I have no clue what this thing is. I have searched the forums, the fsm's, everything and I can't find anything on it.

So I have a few questions...

1) Is it important?

2) What does it do?

3) If it needs to be replaced, where can I buy it?

4) If I can not buy it, do you think fixing it with something like an epoxy would be acceptable.

Thanks in advance.

Here are some pictures,

No idea what the function of the plastic piece is, but I would take it to a dealer parts department and order a replacement. [Maybe you can find out the function from a tech at the dealer.] Epoxy does not bond with certain plastics so I wouldn't trust such a repair.

Update
 

I think the part you are looking for is identified in the attached parts page as a "blind plug", 16-241, part number 8540-16-241A (the 8 may be a "B"). Probably just a plug to fill a non-funtional opening in the housing required during casting or manufacture. Clean off the break with alcohol and try some JB Weld to see if that will hold, then reinstall. Otherwise get a replacement from a dealer parts dept.

If nothing else, shove a grommet or piece of rubber (cut a hose) or foam to keep dirt and other crap out of your clutch area. Think of that piece being like the round rubber grommet at the bottom of the bellhousing near that broken piece.

I find JB weld a little too permanent for something like this.

thanks GO48! I just plan on glueing it back together and putting it back in. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't something important that needed to be replaced (ie: the correct way of doing things) haha

i've never seen one of these on any of the 12 rx7's i've ever owned...

maybe its a s4 na specific part :dunno:

Not on mine it's not... Never seen that part either.

What did you end up doing to fix it? Did you just glue it back together? If so, did it hold up?

My fear is that it will break inside the transmission bell housing and get caught inside the clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel assembly.

you'd be better off just leaving it out