Bleh, throwout bearing replacement, questions while i'm already there. (Page 1/3)
A_Lonely_Potato NOV 05, 03:55 PM
So my throwout bearing went out a couple days ago(it seems). I was driving along, coming up on a light, clutch in, woah, that didnt feel right.... Sitting in neutral, light goes green, try to go into 1st, and well it just won't go in! Shut down, get into first, start up and i can get moving. Manage to get off the road, which of course was the 44 beltline through grand rapids at 2pm! Got it town home on thursday, was a very nerve wracking experience using a 2007 grand caravan haha.

Anyway, I gotta drop my cradle and separate my engine/trans, and i'm figuring while i'm already doing all that, why not get a swap done? We'll see if that actually happens though. I want to do an LZ9. To start with, i'm looking to do this as stock as is reasonable. Stock ECM, swap to DBW, not delete VVT/variable intake. I do want to keep the fiero gauges though, and am having some difficulty finding the information to do so. current potential donor is an 07 chevy uplander LS, which near as i can tell is using a variant of the E67 ECU, i keep finding new numbers(19210737, 12605843, 19210736) and i don't rightly know which one is right. I want to gather all the information I can before deciding to commit to this. If anyone can help with pinouts to mate the gauges to the ECM, it would be quite appreciated.

I have a welder, and access to a plasma cutter, drill press, vertical mill, lathe, layout tools, and i can layout a part according to blueprints. i'm comfortable doing wiring as well. I should be reasonably well equipped, i just don't know all that i gotta know yet.
Notorio NOV 05, 11:12 PM
Potato,

I have to admire your spunk, diving unreservedly into a significant engine swap when all you really need is some simple tranny work: here's wishing you the best on your journey. A quick search turned up this thread with some people who seem to know what you are asking about (I think). LZ9 ECM.
A_Lonely_Potato NOV 06, 10:25 AM
i've read through that thread before, i don't know why i didn't remember it. thanks for bringing it up to me

to be honest, i've been looking for an excuse to start a swap. i got this car with the intention of swapping it at some point, and i don't need it to get myself around, i have other vehicles. my engine itself isn't in the best condition, i need to replace the lower intake gaskets/seal as it is leaking oil pretty good at the "s" and its just a bit of a pain to do with the engine still in the car.

[This message has been edited by A_Lonely_Potato (edited 11-06-2022).]

fierofool NOV 06, 01:01 PM
Failed throwout bearings will generally make a lot of noise and you may feel vibations in the pedal. Temporarily, I would look at your hydraulic system, specifically the slave cylinder. You don't say what engine/transmission combo you have. If it's a 4-speed, it could also be the slave cylinder mount that is prone to breaking without warning.

Pop the boot off the end of the slave and check for fluid. Also, pull the carpet and padding back underneath the dash just below the master cylinder pushrod and look for fluid tracks down the front bulkhead. This may get you going until you're ready for your swap.
David Hambleton NOV 06, 01:13 PM
Helpful info: year, engine, trans.
A_Lonely_Potato NOV 06, 02:53 PM
86 GT with isuzu 5spd. mostly stock 2.8

When i broke down i checked slave throw, it was correct at about 1.125". I had replaced my master cylinder a couple months ago, and i also checked for leaks and fluid level at the same time. Tranny had been clicking/ticking in sync to engine RPM for months whenever my clutch was engaged, and would stop when clutch was disengaged. through all gears it would do this. i felt a lot of chatter and vibration when i depressed the clutch, and again when getting it moving and off the road.
fierofool NOV 07, 06:34 PM
The throwout bearing may have come loose from the fork or you have lost some of the fingers on the pressure plate. Did you use a V6 clutch pack with the Isuzu transmission or an Isuzu clutch kit? The Isuzu clutch plate is a bit smaller than the V6 and will wear out quicker. It may even slip under hard acceleration. I always bought a clutch plate and pressure plate for an 85V6, then purchased a separate throwout bearing for an Isuzu 5-speed for the 2 85GTs that I had converted.
A_Lonely_Potato NOV 07, 10:43 PM
I actually do not know, as I did not do the trans swap, a P/O did that. I guess i'll be finding out in a couple days after i get everything together and drop my cradle

If i don't attempt a swap, i will still be replacing my clutch disc, so that is good information to know! thanks
A_Lonely_Potato NOV 10, 06:18 PM
wow, this was quite terrifying haha. tomorrow I will get to work taking stuff off/apart. dinged my bumper with the hoist unfortunately.





third edit, got the images working haha

[This message has been edited by A_Lonely_Potato (edited 11-11-2022).]

A_Lonely_Potato NOV 11, 05:37 PM
So, some development. got my engine/trans separated, and my clutch off.

lets start with the throwout bearing, since thats what i believed to be my main issue.



WOW! i don't know how that clip came out, but it for sure did!

when i first pulled it off, the clip seemed to be rotated as well, so the fork arms i beleive were striking the rear of the bearing instead of the intended surface, as seems likely by the wear marks on the raised portion.



now for the juicy part. i got my clutch pressure plate and clutch disc off. and i notice something rolling around between the pressure plate and disc, pick up the disc and theres a spring there??? look at my clutch and whaddya know, looks like a spring managed to blast its way out of its home!



it looks to me like it gave the clutch disc a good beating while it was at it too. ill edit with more pictures when i get back, but for now i wanted to show off the latest.
quick edit: if someone could help me identify which clutch i have, that would be awesome!

[This message has been edited by A_Lonely_Potato (edited 11-11-2022).]