Clutch Help Please

[CMPanoz]

I’m afraid I already know the answer to this but how do you remove the bell housing to replace the clutch? And I though removing the trans. was a PITA...do I really need to slide the engine forward or is there something I’m missing? (I hope)

Any replacement clutch recommendations????

Thank You,
Chris M

[panozracing]

Originally Posted by PanozWantToBe

I’m afraid I already know the answer to this but how do you remove the bell housing to replace the clutch? And I though removing the trans. was a PITA...do I really need to slide the engine forward or is there something I’m missing? (I hope)

Any replacement clutch recommendations????

Thank You,
Chris M

Pulling the tranny is not a PITA. Its easy with a lift and 2 people. I also have done this under a trailer at the track and it wasnt too bad either. Make sure you have a clutch alignment tool. I DONT like the plastic ones since it allows too much play. I machined a very tight tolerance one and it is a dream. We also choose to not use the quartermaster system and go with a similar priced McCloed multi-disk unit which is much stronger and so far has lasted a long time with a bunch of hp.

Let me add that we us a hydraulic throwout bearing (internal)...the slaves come on the GTS and they always gave us issues.

[AIMidwest27]

Originally Posted by PanozWantToBe

I’m afraid I already know the answer to this but how do you remove the bell housing to replace the clutch? And I though removing the trans. was a PITA...do I really need to slide the engine forward or is there something I’m missing? (I hope)

Any replacement clutch recommendations????

Thank You,
Chris M

This car is so easy to work on - everything is exposed - I just pull the motor with trans attached when I want to do that kind of work. I changed to a Hydraulic clutch (external slave cylinder). Clutch disk.. depends on your hp/tq. If it's a stock GTRA motor, a stock Ford clutch will do you just fine.

[David Eastman]

I do remember the bell housing being a little tight to remove but I didn't do anything out of the ordenary to remove it. What seem to be the problem?

David

[CMPanoz]

This car is an old series car, 4.6 engine. The trans on this car is larger than the area between the lower frame rails. To get the trans out, we had to disassemble the interior trans tunnel, stand the trans on its nose and drop it through the widest opening just behind the bell housing. I guess I was expecting it to just drop out of the trans tunnel area. The side veins/castings on the outside of bell housing hits the firewall/trans tunnel frame. I have tried rotating it every which way and it won’t clear the flywheel/clutch assembly. The hosing is marred up from some else having the same issue. I think AIMidwest has the quickest overall solution.
When ordering this, is this a clutch for an 98 cobra 4.6 with TKO Tremec trans??
Thanks for the input,
Chris M

[David Eastman]

Yes you have to remove the tunnel to get the trans out. However you don't need to take the trans out of the car unless you are going to work on the trans. Just push it up into the passanger floor board and leave it there. As for the bellhousing you may try to lift the front or rear of the motor to get the clearace you need.

David

[CMPanoz]

Thanks David.

Ended up taking the motor mount bolts loose, disconnecting the exhaust and pushing the front of the engine up. I had an issue with the car....no motion when car was in gear. The clutch is worn but operational, so the trans needed to come out.

Priced a new clutch from quarter master, ouch. Even purchasing just the consumable parts is over $500.00 With the Alum flywheel with the 8.5 friction surface, I don't see how I could use anyother clutch without buying a new alum flywheel.

Thanks,
Chris M

[panozracing]

Originally Posted by PanozWantToBe

Priced a new clutch from quarter master, ouch. Even purchasing just the consumable parts is over $500.00 With the Alum flywheel with the 8.5 friction surface, I don't see how I could use anyother clutch without buying a new alum flywheel.

Thanks,
Chris M

We replaced the flywheel with a fidanza flywheel when we changed clutches. I ebayed the quartermaster with flywheel for 150 (I think).

[CMPanoz]

Quit teasing me Brian. My search yielded nothing for an 8.5" clutch assembly.

I have little to no experience with anything other than simply OEM clutch sets.

The search did however return clutch disk three packs for different size quartermaster clutch assemblies. This has piqued my curiosity and generated the following question. Would I be foolish to only replace the clutch disk itself? Are these intended to wear out quicker than the friction surfaces? The pressure plate surface and friction surface on the flywheel look healthy.
Thanks for any help,
Chris M

[boothkc]

DO NOT put the 8.5" quatermaster clutch in the GTRA cars. This a very high performance on/off type racing clutch and is not a good choice for the school cars. They just don't need it. The shimming procedure is a real bitch and probalby beyond the talent of most owner/mechs. We had to pull the engine 4 times on my GTS to get the blasted thing to work right! Many calls to Panoz and Quatermaster etc. It also allows no fudge factor matching revs on downshift. You will chirp and unsettle the car unless you are very good at it.

Take your clutch pieces to your local autoparts house to match and get whatever brand of HP ford clutch you like and it will work fine. I think it was a 10.5" Ford HP that we put in and it is smooth and quick. Put in a new throwout bearing as well. You need to move the engine forward and the trans back to get it in. Leave the flywheel alone, replace the pressure plate, disc, and T/O as you don't want to go throught this again soon if the pressure plate cracks or something. Just my $.02.

Kevin
GTSx2
GTRAx1

[CMPanoz]

Thanks for the input boothkc.

Okay, now I am really confused. The Alum clutch pressure plate cover has a 9" round bolt pattern and the aluminum flywheel is tapped to accept these bolts. The friction surface on the flywheel is also 8.5" and tapped to accept the friction surface. How can I use a 10.5" on the existing alum flywheel, the largest diameter of tappings is only 9"?
Thanks,
Chris

[David Eastman]

Where did the aluminum fly wheel come from. The GTRA should have a 10.5 inch cluthc in it.

David

[PanozDuke]

Originally Posted by David Eastman

Where did the aluminum fly wheel come from. The GTRA should have a 10.5 inch cluthc in it.

David

I think he has a GTWC with 4.6. What did they have?

Mike

[CMPanoz]

Yes PanozDuke, it is a GTWC with a 4.6. I think it is a common spec for the GTWC cars. When I spoke with a tech @ Quartermaster, he shared with me that he had been with the company for 12 years and had a hand in helping spec the clutch for Panoz. He was very knowledgeable about other aspects of the car.

Thank You

[fixenitup]

I need help with installing the pilot bearing. I am not sure if I have the right part.