Messages

1

Engine + Driveline / Figured out my clutch issue

« on: February 20, 2012, 05:56:01 PM »

Not the throwout bearing...the center of the clutch disk (for the dual-mass flywheel) that makes with the input shaft from the trans.  The clutch was originally installed with the centering tool.

When you normally install a pilot bearing, what's the fit like?  Do you really have to push it in with a hammer?  Mine just slid right in and I've been wondering if it was the wrong size.

2

Engine + Driveline / Figured out my clutch issue

« on: February 18, 2012, 12:27:20 PM »

So I took the transmission and clutch off last night and figured out what the issue was: somehow the center lug on my clutch disk sheared loose from the rest of the disk.  Voila, no power and no noise.  Really weird...sorry for the blurry photos.

http://flic.kr/p/bvvM8t
http://flic.kr/p/bvvMre
http://flic.kr/p/bvvMBt
http://flic.kr/p/bvvMNr

Anyway, now that I've been looking at this for a little bit I have a question: why would it break this way?  Clutch components all look pretty good so I'm worried I'm missing some root cause and it'll happen again.  I've already had one suggestion that I have the wrong pilot bearing--wasn't a press fit in the crankshaft and came out on the transmission but seems fine otherwise--which let the input shaft vibrate a little bit.  Any thoughts?

Not really interested in doing a single-mass conversion so I think I'll sand the flywheel and replace the clutch components with stock.

Ben

3

General Topics / Looking for some help in the Bay Area

« on: February 14, 2012, 11:35:35 AM »

Yeah, I've been wondering about all the little stuff I should've just replaced when I was in there as well...  But I feel like if the pivot or fork broke the clutch would still be connected to the transmission, or at least I'd have felt/heard some terrible noise in there.  I'll be praying for the slave cylinder so I can do this in an afternoon rather than a week:-P

4

General Topics / Looking for some help in the Bay Area

« on: February 13, 2012, 06:20:31 PM »

I don't have a whole lot on the symptoms yet but the basic problem is that I had a sudden loss of power going from the engine to the rear wheels, which happened downshifting to head up a hill.  I can't lift up the rear of the car--it's parked on a hill--so I can't tell if the driveshaft is spinning but my guess is no because I can usually hear the transmission spinning, even in neutral, and it's a little too silent at the moment.  Clutch pedal seems springy and the engine is running fine otherwise.  No unusual noises.

So I'm guessing it's the clutch but I'm not sure what the issue might be because it would be stuck open (no power to the trans) and I don't know what would cause that.  Do slave cylinders get stuck open like that?  Any chance of a pressure plate working itself loose?  Anything easy to test/fix?

Here's a little background:
Just replaced the engine over the summer with a used one--didn't do a rebuild but took it apart and looked everything over, replacing all the seals and the thrust bearing in the process.  Put it all back together and replaced the center bearing while I was at it.  Clutch had plenty of life left (based on measuring the thickness of the disk) so I didn't do anything to it, which might have been a terrible mistake...but hopefully not.  Guibo looked fine but there's always a chance something happened to it on the drive down south, seeing as I wasn't exactly taking it easy.

Thanks,
Ben

5

General Topics / Looking for some help in the Bay Area

« on: February 13, 2012, 03:51:37 PM »

Hi all,
I moved down to San Francisco from Seattle in my '91 E30 318is and had some drivetrain trouble around Bodega Bay. Good news is that I had just signed up for 100mi free towing with AAA but the bad news is that something between the engine and the rear wheels is in need of some attention. I haven't been able to get under the car yet so it's all guesswork at this point.  At least most of the drive was turny and fun:-)

I'm new to the Bay Area and don't have any garage space at the moment. I was hoping to connect with the local owners to see if anyone has some space I can use to check the car out and fix whatever needs fixing, which may potentially include--but hopefully not--pulling the engine to get at the transmission and clutch. Any help would be awesome!

Thanks a lot
Ben

6

Engine + Driveline / Ideas for oil loss and misfires?

« on: September 24, 2010, 03:18:01 PM »

So I went out for a drive and couldn't reproduce the misfiring.  I think it must have been the loose hose clamp on the boot from the AFM to the TB opening up under heavy accel/loading.  Not 100% sure yet but I'll see what happens with some more driving.

I'm not sure that this is the cause of the oil filler cap leak and too much pressure in the crankcase.  Only time will tell on that one too:-P

7

Engine + Driveline / A great read about oil

« on: September 24, 2010, 11:58:38 AM »

I was struggling with an oil decision yesterday and a friend forwarded this to me.  Makes for a very interesting read!

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=haas_articles

What do you all think?

8

Engine + Driveline / Ideas for oil loss and misfires?

« on: September 23, 2010, 08:25:40 PM »

Just checked the baffle and there's no blockage.  I don't have any way to check the flow rate through the CCV hose out of the valve cover but I can definitely blow through it (gross).

However, when I was checking out the CCV, I noticed that one of the pipe clamps on the rubber boot between the throttle body and MAF was loose.  The boot was on when I looked at it, but is there a chance it could open up under throttle and lead to some weird vacuum leak/blowby in the crankcase??

I still have another 20mi or so of driving I'm going to do on the Seafoam so I'll see if the symptoms get any better.

Next step is a leakdown test tomorrow to see if valve blowby could be the answer.  I'm a little skeptical of this since the valves were checked recently and it's intermittent.

9

Engine + Driveline / Ideas for oil loss and misfires?

« on: September 23, 2010, 06:11:55 PM »

Hmmm, I thought the e30 version of the m42 just had a hose that ran straight to the intake.  Is the valve under the baffle in the valve cover or is it buried in the mess under the intake?  I could definitely take the baffle off and take a look this afternoon.

I'm also giving Seafoam a try this afternoon to see whether a quick clean will shake something loose...and hopefully nothing I need!

10

Engine + Driveline / Ideas for oil loss and misfires?

« on: September 23, 2010, 11:48:33 AM »

Thanks for your help!  I really hope it's not valves....

Is there any way to diagnose between CCV and stuck valve?  The valve would surprise me because I had the head at a machine shop less than a year ago for another exhaust valve and I think they checked all the others too.  Would it be worthwhile trying something like Seafoam to unstick the valves, if that is the case?

What are the symptoms of worn lifters?

If I pinch the CCV vac line while the engine is idling then let it go, I get a vacuum response so it seems like the thing isn't totally clogged.  Should I just spray some carb cleaner down there or do I need to use something stronger?

11

Engine + Driveline / Ideas for oil loss and misfires?

« on: September 22, 2010, 05:25:43 PM »

Hi all.  I've been slowly getting an e30 m42 into running shape but I'm running out of ideas for how to solve the latest symptoms:

-Losing oil (definitely a little out the exhaust after starting the car but not much when running; there is quite a bit coming out of the brand new oil filler cap)

-Inconsistently rough/misfiring when accelerating at speed (replacing fuel filter helped a little but still evident)

The thing that bothers me is that the oil loss wasn't bad at all after I replaced the front profile gasket and oil filter housing gasket.  I don't really see much oil on the front of the engine anymore but I'm still losing ~1qt/100mi.

Other details:
-10w40 dino oil
-Compression is right around 200 for all 4 cylinders; vacuum/leakdown test was good 6 months ago but maybe it's changed?
-Timing components are new (<5000)
-Valve gasket is new
-Plenty of lifter ticking

I'd appreciate any input you have on my current ideas of things to test:
-Blowby (even though test 6 months ago was fine?)
-Worn lifters?
-Blocked CCV (I have the standard mess-under-intake setup with the vac hoses)
-Fuel pump (how do I test this to see if it's failing?)
-Would there be any benefit to running something like Seafoam through the engine?

Thanks for the help
Ben

12

For Sale / Garage clean up sale! Tons of parts!

« on: December 18, 2009, 12:27:47 PM »

PM sent re: the injectors ... interested in a set of 4 asap;-)

13

Engine + Driveline / Mustang Injectors in an M42 engine

« on: December 17, 2009, 12:08:16 PM »

It looks like I'm going to need to replace my injectors anyway so I figure I might as well go to the 4 pintle.  Does anyone still have a set of these for sale?  Thanks!