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Anyone local want to help a weekend mechanic replace his clutch

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
I'd help but that's a bit far of a drive for me :D
 

wareagle

War Eagle
1,935
40
Hickory, NC
Thanks Sean. I heard that Borg Warner was the best clutch kit to get, but all I can find is Borg Warner Brute Power clutch kits. Are these the same? The husband of a lady I worked with said these were the kits to get but that they were around $400. The ones I have seen have been around $140.
 

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
Wow $400 for just a kit. Unless you have a high performance engine I don't know if it is worth forking out that kind of cash on a clutch. I had a clutch made by rhinopac which worked well for me and cost me around $150. My current clutch...hate to say it... but was from Autozone and currently has no problems. I'm sure in certain applications a $400 clutch is probably awesome. For me, not so much LOL. I've installed clutches for people...parts and labor included for around $500. Borg Warner makes some good stuff. I honestly didn't know they had clutches because my local parts place never had them that I know of. I can't give you a recommendation on them because I don't know of anyone with one either. If you have a NAPA nearby see what they have to offer.
 

wareagle

War Eagle
1,935
40
Hickory, NC
Thanks Sean. Found a Borg Warner Brute Power clutch kit for around $150. That will be a little easier to give the price to my wife. Had I told her I was going to spend $400 for a clutch kit she would have 1) asked what a clutch kit is and 2) said no... find a cheaper one!!!
 

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
That's cool $150 seems to be about average for kits of any brand. Let me know how it feels when you install it. Maybe it'll be a brand I try when I need a clutch
 

wareagle

War Eagle
1,935
40
Hickory, NC
Will do Sean. Of course, since I've never replaced a clutch before, I need to find someone local willing to give up a day to help me out. Trying to talk my nephew, who is in the Marines and stationed at an army base in Missouri, to come down one weekend and help me out.
 
Sounds like fun to me. :)
But, it's a one man job if you want/need it to be. :)

Used cement blocks and short pieces of 2x4s and 2x6s by myself many
times but when I had help handy I would lift it using tie-downs from up
above and have a helper pull or place blocks/boards as needed in "little
hops" (at work RR motor-car operators called it that;) but now that I'm
older I got me an engine hoist and that made the job more fun...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist2.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist3a.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist4a.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist5a.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist6a.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist6m.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist7m.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist8m.jpg
That is a crummy place for the chain. :/ I'd snapped the picture after I'd
moved-up the chain (so it would clear the sheet metal). It worked fine, a
pickup's transmission only weighs about 150 pounds but the chain should
have been behind the drain plug. See what I mean? :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/hoist9m.jpg
Do what you have to to line things up.
There is no such thing as too straight. ;)

Don't you even-think-about doing this job without making yourself a set
of these babies...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/guidepins.jpg
(5 or 6", 7/16" course thread bolts with the heads cut off)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/guidepin.jpg
The whole works had slid up to there like it was on rails! :) It had stopped
on the engine's centering dowels. One foot and a simple push with a little
wiggling will push one home (up to the centering dowels) and a little wiggling
and tugging will pull it apart -->when everything is lined up right<--.

----------------

Be sure to have the flywheel resurfaced and if you get the "lever type"
pressure plate be sure to to check its adjustment to see that that sucker
is straight. Perfection bought out Borg Warner's clutch division and they
might be better but never saw a BW pressure plate that was straight right
out of the package. :/

Rhino doesn't seem to make anything(?) but do a great job of picking out
cheap but good quality stuff so you can rely on it. That's from my vast
experience from having bought -one- RhinoPac so far. LOL :)

Oh yeah and the pilot bearing... If you've got an FE/FT a guy can use a
6303 sealed ball bearing for a pilot bearing, like some of the heavy duty
trucks used. I've got a little 6003 ball bearing in my '91 Bronco's 351w.
Had already done did that when the local bearing shop guy swore up and
down that little-bearing should have no trouble handling the job.

...well, we'll see, huh? ;)

Alvin in AZ
ps- What'd I leave out? :)
 
Last edited:

smokey

Hitech hillbilly
Staff member
Alvin knows his stuff. almost identical as to how I do it. I bought a transmission jack that made life easier. Before I just bench pressed the transmission and set it in place.
 

blacksnapon

Moderator
Staff member
Trying to talk my nephew, who is in the Marines and stationed at an army base in Missouri, to come down one weekend and help me out.
He's probably here (Ft. Leonard Wood). I'm just outside the main gate.
 

wareagle

War Eagle
1,935
40
Hickory, NC
alright fellows, feelings are getting hurt. I know, you are sitting at home saying that you don't want to be greedy and volunteer first for this excellent opportunity. I that is you, then don't feel that way. I'll provide all the PBR and pizza you need. I really just need someone to look over my shoulder to make sure I don't screw it up... This is why I bought an older vehicle, so I could work on it through the years along with my 2 and 3 year olds.
 

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
Like I said I would, but it's a long drive LOL.
 

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
well, had you started that long drive when you first mentioned it, the clutch would be in by now : )

:rofl2: Wanna fund the gas money for that?
 

73F100Shortbed

That's how we roll!
5,937
320
NJ
302, 2 barrel. 10mpg :rolling laugh:
 

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