Just pulled my Atlas and ZF to get the tranny rebuilt. Reverse is nearly gone if I can get it in at all. Picked the shop here in the 'Springs for the tranny I think, but he doesn't do clutch stuff. I put maybe 500-1000 miles on my bronco a year. If I had to pick, would rather go with something tailored for off-road rather than road manners.

I am also going to replace all the hydraulics as I feel that could be part of my problem. Any pointers on bleeding the slave? Should I fill it on the bench first?

Lastly, what decides whether you get the flywheel resurfaced or not. Should I replace the pilot bearing? Thanks!

J.D.

Pilot bearing or bushing is cheap. Replace it. If the flywheel has any noticeable marks, hot areas, etc. get it surfaced. You already got it apart, neither adds much $$.

Pilot pressed into flywheel right? So might be easiest to R&R on the bench?

Where is a good place to have the flywheel surfaces in the 'Springs area?

Thanks!

The pilot bushing is pressed in to the back of the crank. Pulling the flywheel (or pressure plate, in this case) won't get you any closer to getting that bushing out. What I did for mine, after reading up on it, was to pack the center of the bushing with axle grease until I couldn't get any more in. Then I took a dowel rod, inserted it in to the center of the bushing, and kept whacking the crap out of it until the bushing popped out.

Thanks Frank. I have heard of a wet paper method too that seemed to work better, but not familiar with either.

My cousin is a mechanic. I'll see if he has the proper tool.

J.D.

Drive Line Service Of Colorado
907 South Sierra Madre Street
(719) 634-2548

My solution was to pull the motor and go get another motor that didn't have a bushing in it. [/quote]


Cheater!

LOL

My advise on the clutch...Get a LUK. I have one in my Bronco and couldn't be happier. As far as replacing the pilot...do it. If you need to, go to autozone and rent the tool to pull it. It is just a slide hammer with a 3 prong puller adapter. Makes it really easy.

x2 on driveline services in the springs, talk to charlie he's the best guy to use there, very knowlegeable and a a great guy, and def. resurface the flywheel, you should never replace a clutch on a used flywheel without doing it. i'd reccomend the LUK clutch as well, or a centerforce clutch, i believe charlie can get the LUK for you, but if not wildhorses and multiple other parts suppliers can

I know LUK and Centerforce both have great reputations. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't something else out there.

Thanks for the advice. I will price a clutch and decide if I am going to replace or not. Thanks!

J.D.

no problem, you're welcome, anytime

Update:
Got the tranny rebuilt by Precision Standard Transmission. Replaced bearings, synchros, a shift fork and the reverse gear, plus your standard gaskets etc. for $690. I won't know how well he did until I have it back in my bronco.

I am going to buy a LUK clutch kit from Springs Converters, new Slave and a free resurface for around $220.

I took my flywheel in and then I noticed some teeth on my flywheel ring gear were broken! Don;t know how I missed that before. I found a new ring gear at Napa for less than $20 and a machine shop to install for $12, which seems like a good deal compared to a new flywheel at $75.

However, can anyone confirm that if the tooth count matches between my current one and the new one that it should be a direct replacement? This is new territory for me and I certain do NOT want to install it all to find out it's wrong. I also need to remember to look at the starter gear as well.

the guys over at precision standard are great guys, and i highly reccomend them, im sure you will have no troubles with their work. as far as i know the gear should work if its the correct tooth count, i believe there's only 2 tooth counts available for the small block ford flywheel, and as long as its for a manual flywheel and not an auto flexplate thats the only other difference i can think of

Should be 164 tooth.

Boy, with any of my projects it never goes smooth. Last week my boss decided I needed to go out of town, so I didn't get done on Friday what I had hoped. Put it all off till today. Drove down to Napa to find they sold the ring gear I needed after having it in stock for months. Found another at Autozone...back in falcon where I JUST came from. So back out to buy it and rent a few tools. $6 for an american made ring gear was a good deal so I figured it was worth the lost time.

Long story short, I got home with what I hope is everything to get the job done tomorrow and maybe be cruising my bronco around under it's own power soon.

J.D.

I know exactly how you feel JD. Three trips to the Advanced store to do a clutch job.
1. Pick up ordered 69 302 clutch
2. Take back clutch, pick up clutch for 88 302 (reman block)
3. Back to store to get 69 throw out bearing.

Nothing is ever simple.

All the frustration on Friday paid off Saturday as I had a couple friends over and in 5 hours, we had the tranny in, Atlas in, Atlas yoke replaced, front driveshaft assembled and installed, driveshafts in, tunnel covers installed, slave cylinder bled (well sorta) and the bronco moving and driving under it's own power. Wow, finally!! Boy did I miss driving that thing.

Now to decide if I should put the hard top on or plan on dressing warm for the remaining winter trips...

J.D.

Dress warm, or just drive it today w/the top down in the 60 degree wx that is forecasted.