whoa!! $643 for a clutch install

Yeah I found out after I bought the Z how little stronger it was... I am a good guy now and drive it nicely. I entertained thoughts of a tremec at the time but didn't have money for a shifter or bellhousing :(

Andy

I could do my 89 in about 2 hours in the drive way. Of course I had learned a few tricks like leting the cross memeber sit on the h pipe and seting the gear box on it and sliding it back. Sure beat having to lift it back up. :)

MadDAWG

Is the seal leaking? Otherwise why replace it, I know it could be maintenance while everything is out but I'd leave it alone if you want the job done more cheaply.

Again I have a 66 mustang and only recently had it's flywheel resurfaced and I believe I paid between 65 and 75 to get it done. Do you really need to have it resurfaced e.g. how hard do you drive this thing that it would require resurfacing?

The shop owner told me that unless the seal looked *very good* that he won't replace it. It's a $30 part. I see no reason to skimp that much.

I don't drive hard at all. I can't remember the last time I had the tach over 3k.

again, the shop noted a flywheel resurface as part of the job. I have no idea if it's needed or not.

resurfaced

Are you justa driver adn not a hobbiest?

There was a time when I spent time and money doing a mod here and there. But, since I have other more important financial obligations, I'm just trying to keep the car in decent running order. It's a 96 GT with 84k and it seems like everything is going at once. here's the current list i'm just starting to check off:

- battery just died

- needs brakes all around

- needs tires all around

- needs shocks & struts all around and alignment

- needs a clutch

- needs coolant flush

- needs valve cover gaskets (leaking oil)

- needs plugs and wires

- needs o2 sensors (CE light)

- ME: needs a bag of cash. :-(

Do what I did, take a part time job at an auto parts shop and use your paycheques for parts which are heavily discounted since you work there :) I was able to almost rebuild my car for peanuts plus I made a ton of good connections in the auto trades. (ya I know, you probably already have 3 jobs...LOL!!!)

-- Buzz Haze-Ottawa ON

Ya know.....that's not a bad idea, except there's no way i'm working at Pep Boys or Autozone. Maybe Napa? I could do that for half a year, no problem.

Nope.....just one full-time job currently. I had a second job nights a few years back. The best thing was that all my time was spent earning money instead of going out and spending it. I literally had no time to spend even if i wanted to. The savings sure did grow fast.

Right now I like my free time. An old engineer once told me....."Work to live. Not live to work"

You'll meet cooler people at AutoZone... Smarter ones at NAPA, but its hard to get a job there.

I'll bet that engineer didn't have all your car problems! Alot of free time is good... you might need it with all the walking you'll be doing.

Good luck with the car.

live. Not live to work.

Given today's labor rates that sounds like a reasonable price. You could do it yourself for far less but it is not an "easy" job. Its not a job for an amateur or without the right tools.

LJH

yeah......maybe. That somehow reminded me of a company car that a friend had. It was an 80's Ford Escort Wagon loaded down in the back with tools to service vending machines. Since day one the car had not one single maintenance service done to it. not even ONE oil change it's whole life. Just gas in the tank and one replaced battery. He had that car for years and it finally died at 150k. Unbelievable.

anyway, i'll have the clutch done this week.

I've been reading my service books and I agree that it might be too much for me at this point. I would tackle the job if I had a second car to get around.

Sauger opined in news:luODb.126$ snipped-for-privacy@news.uswest.net:

Which is why you LEAVE it IN till time to hoist up the tranny

Yes, thats the only way it makes sense

You have found one basic truth.... cheap ain't.

Huh? The seal is a "sacrificial" part..... it is designed to wear so that other things don't. While it 'should' last the life of the motor, nothing will beat a PROPERLY installed replacement seal if the flywheel is off. But, if we are shopping price to begin with, we have little chance of the new seal being properly installed.

Jim Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net

S*it, Larry.... it's not an easy job for a professionalWITH the right tools, somedays....

LOL, yes thats why I quoted "easy". Done it several times myself and know ALL about it.

LJH