don't tell me you lost it...

 

No I think he just needs a new one, right pete? Because the old one was deader than dead?

 

Yeah, I still have it, but it has the bearing melted on it... So I need a new one.

 

Went to Ford to pick up a new one, and it was going to be 90 bucks including a new seal. Pretty steep, but it's a "new design" made of steel instead of aluminum which should "never need replacing." Going to pick it up tomorrow.

 

Thats hecka dollars

 

It is hecka dollars, but the benefit of the new steel one is that the throw out bearing can't cut a grove into it as easily, and therefore it isn't nearly as likely to break itself into itty bitty pieces next time. Which is a plus.

 

that sounds like a downside, with the steel you will only have one forever, with the other you get the joy of turning 1 into 2 or even more....

 

 

*Sigh* The price we have to pay to get a good part. THEY (Ford) should have made it from steel (like other car makers do) in the first place. Sometimes I feel that some of the old engineers that were fired from Triumph were hired by Ford due to the crappy parts they sometimes made into production on our cars.

 

I guess it may have been good in theory, seeing as it was a lighter part, but with more R&D they would have realized that it wouldn't keep up with the mileage that some of these cars see.

 

Clutch is in! It had a lot of play at the top of the swing when it was first in, but now with 30 miles on it it feels great throughout the entire swing. Unfortunately the side exhaust is being a pain. Nothing is ever "done"...

 

yup, if you ever get "done" it's time to find something else to work on

 

So how bad of a job was this really? My throw out bearing is chirping like a bird in spring time, and I feel like I will be replacing the clutch and flywheel at the same time.

 

Not nearly as bad as anyone has ever said. It is, however, extremely time consuming. Realistically the only real hard part is doing everything in the right order, then it's a breeze. Get the exhaust off. Take the driveshaft out. Undo the transmission to bellhousing bolts. Put the jack under the tranny, then roll it out. Pull the bellhousing off, and slip the clutch fork out, take the bearing out of the fork, and installation is the reverse. Takes FOREVER, but it really is not that bad.

 

You gotta realize that when a company is building a car they only build it to last the warrenty so 3 year 36000 miles.

 

Well, I am very happy with how my exhaust is right now. I figured out that if I put it in the "wrong" hole, then it sits much closer to the body, so that's how it is for the moment. I might grab a couple pictures of it soon.

Secondly, there is a guy on my water polo whose dad owns a body shop and said he would be "more than happy" to paint my other fender for me.

 

WOOT

 

Yep, get that thing painted and mounted!

 

And the "Parker's best friend on the water polo team" discount is.... 50%!

Of...

$450... Oh my god...

So, they knocked off 25 extra bucks and called it a day at 200. Thankfully Parker's best friend on the water polo team had the option to work it off moving cars around, and doing fun stuff like cleaning shop instead of handing over a lot of dollars, or Peter would not be a happy.

 

I didn't know where else to post this pete, but at least this guarantees i won't forget to show it to you

http://www.motivatedphotos.com/?id=1461&d=1