OK, I hesitate to post this, because I have a pretty good idea already the sorts of replies I'm going to get, but I decided to post it anyways. I have a new Spec Stage 1 clutch (and rebuilt Fidanza flywheel, when it arrives) to install in my '98 Sunfire GT. Now, the thing I'm fighting at this point is...should I even try to do this myself? I will come right out and say it, I don't have a lot of experience with actually working on cars - I've read a lot and understand, theoretically, what I'd be doing if I was to try to install it, but I've never seen the inside of a transmission in person, let alone dropped one out of a car. (Damn book smarts...) Plus I don't have access to every tool known to a mechanic (basically I have a torque wrench and a good 120 or so piece Craftsman set, plus jackstands and a floor jack...no air tools, I would definitely be willing to go out and grab a breaker bar - don't have one at this point but I could definitely see a use for one as in the past I've wished I had one, but always made do without).
Stuff I've done myself in the past, or helped with - spark plugs and wires, intakes, strut tower bars, shocks/springs (on my '01 Eclipse), oil changes, batteries...basic stuff. I'm very interested in learning, but I don't want to leave the car FUBAR. I do have another car to drive for a while so it doesn't have to be done immediately (but within 2 weeks or so would probably be best). Anyone in the Canton, OH area who would be willing to help out possibly? I'd love to save some money by not having a shop do it, but if I have to, I will take it to a shop and not deal with the potential problems. Any specific tools that are needed that I wouldn't have that would automatically make this impossible for me? Words of advice? I know for some of you this isn't all that hard, but I've never thought of attempting anything this advanced before...so keep that in mind before you say "it's really not that hard, all you gotta do is unbolt the tranny, drop it, remove the bellhousing, pull the old clutch and flywheel, install the new one, put everything back together, raise the tranny again and bolt it back up, and you're done."
Well you would need a second person to help get the tranny out of the car. Sounds like you have what it takes to do it.
FU Tuning
Transmissions, specifically clutches, are fairly easy to understand. I make my extra money by doing clutches on J-Body's and Srt-4's. But John is right, you need a second person. And a transmission jack is a big help too. Just make sure yo strap down the tranny to the jack when you drop it. The last one i did wasnt on good enough and now i have a very nice scar on my arm. And make sure you have some lock-tight also.
Veritas Aequitas
Lock tight is definitely needed. I've had the flywheel bolts come loose on me twice, that's a sh!tty waste of an afternoon. One of my buddies and I have gotten the clutch install down to about 3 hours. Not too bad considering we're doing on the ground without the use of a lift. We found that a trans jack kinda gets in the way, a third person is typically what we end up with. It's not that hard if you have mechanical ability, just make sure everything is unplugged when you go to drop that trans otherwise you could do some damage to some sensors and possibly get hurt.
---------------------------------------------------
4 Cams...32 Valves...5 Liters...This Could Get Fun!
fair amount has to be done on the front end suspension. so having a torch handy is useful for taking off the steering knuckle. breaker bar is good to have too, either for the axles (30mm socket i believe), or for whatever job you end up doing in the future.
you have to lower the subframe quite a bit also, dropping the tranny isnt bad since you can drop it onto the subframe then sort of roll it off onto the ground. lifting it up is a lot harder though so i ended up using a tranny jack and a friend from above.
i was in the same situation when i did mine for the first time. had to drop the trans a 2nd time because of a loose pressure plate bolt.
14.82 @ 97 mph
I take the sub-frame out all together, takes a little bit of time, but well worth not having to wrestle the trans around it.
---------------------------------------------------
4 Cams...32 Valves...5 Liters...This Could Get Fun!
