Quick: How important is it to have the flywheel resurfaced...

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"
Founding Member
Aug 7, 2002
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Arkansas
Well I ask because today I found out that I won't be able to get the flywheel resurfaced until Monday (unlike tomorrow - Saturday)...like I thought...which is only two days but I drive this everyday...ya'll think I should just wait and get it resurfaced anyways...

The previous owner did the 5spd swap probably less than a year after I got the car...so a total of a probably 2 year old flywheel...and last year when we replaced the clutch (right when I got it)...the flywheel looked nice and smooth...is that an okay test? We didn't notice any starter teeth missing and a guy that builds race cars helped me with the install and said it looked fine...so we just stuck back in and all was well till a little over a month ago when I added the extra power (h/c/i) and stock clutch started slipping (as expected)...so if the clutch has been slipping and "burning" (I smell it a few times a day)...does that mean I need to resurface the flywheel or is a visual check fine? Does the burning and slipping affect the flywheel surface?

Thanks for the suggestions...I'll probably go ahead and wait but am curious...

Sorry guys...wrong forum :bang:
 
You have to resurface it dude. can you get by w/o doing it? Sure, but tis not right. I hear you on needing the car asap. Are there any machine shops near you? Gotta be some place to go to? Tne dude I had install my tremec for me said he NEVER does a clutch w/o resurfacing the fly. You said yourself that when you changed the clutch you didnt do it, so even more so its needed. Dont half ass it dude.
 
In your case its a must do. I just had mine done and found out why my clutch was slipping at the track on the launch... I was only getting about 1/3 of the clutch in contact with the flywheel... it was warped pretty bad.
 
Grn92LX said:
You have to resurface it dude. can you get by w/o doing it? Sure, but tis not right. I hear you on needing the car asap. Are there any machine shops near you? Gotta be some place to go to? Tne dude I had install my tremec for me said he NEVER does a clutch w/o resurfacing the fly. You said yourself that when you changed the clutch you didnt do it, so even more so its needed. Dont half ass it dude.

I don't know of any places that will do it on the weekends...at my local NAPA they have a machine shop and the guy said he would do it on Monday (I'll drop it off during my break at the college)...and pick it up later that afternoon and start putting it all back together...

The reason why I ask is because the previous owner (appears he bought it new)...had just did the swap...but yeah I was just curious...maybe the guy helping me tear it down tomorrow will now a place on the weekends that will do it...but I doubt it...I can wait...
 
Okay do I need to bring the clutch assemlby with me (the new King Cobra) for him to match it to the flywheel or is their just a set thing they do to all flywheels...?
 
Alright I'll bring just the flywheel to the shop...and of course I'll take out the dowel pins first...anything I need to tell him specifically...

Obviously to make sure I get the same flywheel in return...
 
Grn92LX said:
Yeah. Tell him to hurry the **** up, because you gotta get the ****in clutch installed and hit up the track so you can post your times on stangnet :D I have such a potty mouth :)

Yes you do... :D ...well I'm off to bed...to start tearing it down till 8 in the morning...then wait till Monday to get the flywheel resurfaced...my valve covers and gaskets are coming in this coming week sometime...and maybe this next weekend (assuming all goes well with the clucth install)...I'll redo the valvetrain and get my leak fixed and go from there...

It appears my track times will be on my practically bald tires but that is fine because I'm just going to look at the mph...It appears that I need to buy a new balancer and new wires (replacing the FR 9mm with some MSD's) and getting a new rotor, cap, plugs, etc...

Track times will come before we close I promise...I just hope it is in "tune"...
 
a blanchard grinder is the best way to resurface the flywheel. make sure your ring gear looks alright too.

good luck.
 
I can get a new one for 50bucks? I'll ask the guy at NAPA if they have a new one for around that cheap...anything particular I should know to make sure I get the correct one? (when I go to drop the flywheel off for resurfacing on Monday)...

Well we got it all tore down today...everything went real smooth...got it all off in under 2 hours easily...not even hurrying...so I'm just waiting to get the new flywheel and where going to install...

I found out I have a Steeda quadrant (2 hooks)...what should I put my OEM clutch cable on?
 
You put the stock cable on the first hook. Man, good stuff. I wanted to do my tremec myself but it looked like a bitch. And getting the scattershield in wasnt gonna be easy on my back. You take any pics during the job? Might as well just wait till monday and resurface it and while your waiting, just prep everything and do the pilot bearing and rear main. Good time to get the valve covers done too :p

Mike
 
Grn92LX said:
You put the stock cable on the first hook. Man, good stuff. I wanted to do my tremec myself but it looked like a bitch. And getting the scattershield in wasnt gonna be easy on my back. You take any pics during the job? Might as well just wait till monday and resurface it and while your waiting, just prep everything and do the pilot bearing and rear main. Good time to get the valve covers done too :p

Mike


The first hook closest towards the firewall (when the clutch is in its upright position - when not being pushed in)...?

I think it is pretty easy...just takes a bit of time...the guy that was helping me injured his leg the day before (in a football game)...so I did most of the work (I told him just to take it easy :nice: )...while his dad helped me out...(the one that builds race cars)...so it went smooth...

Nah...didn't take any pics...nothing special about it to me...lol...

Yeah a new pilot bearing is installed and the rear main was changed last year and looked good but it looks like I got an oil leak from my oil pan back there and runs down the backside of the block...and doesn't contact the flywheel...so I'm just going to wipe it clean and maybe stuff some high-temp silicone in there... :shrug:

Lol...the valve covers came in today...but I got to wait on the gaskets (coming Tuesday along with my headlight adjusting plates)... :nice: ...and I'll do that this next weekend most likely...

Does places like NAPA take core charges for the old clutches you buy from them?...I was wondering if I could put that "down" on a new flywheel :shrug: ...if not I'm going to get it resurfaced like I planned...