TKO600 clutch

elmariachi · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

They provided their own fasteners? Do you happen to remember whether they were shouldered bolts? From the factory, did Ford PPs come with washers under the PP bolts?

Yes, they supplied 5/16"-18, 3/4" in length, no shoulders. Steve Christ's rebuild book references bolts and lock washers in the clutch reassembly process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm betting that, for them to provide you with PP bolts and to specify that you NOT use washers, those bolts not only are not shouldered, but probably have dubious thread depth as well. The only way you'll know for sure is to pull one of them out and look at it.

I removed one and it appears that the bolt was threaded into the flywheel a tad under 1/2". All six of them very tight when I checked them. I think changing bolts is a bit of overkill for my street application but what would be the ideal bolt??

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

I removed one and it appears that the bolt was threaded into the flywheel a tad under 1/2". All six of them very tight when I checked them. I think changing bolts is a bit of overkill for my street application but what would be the ideal bolt??

Honestly, I wouldn't touch them. I have heard of every type of driveline failure there is in Cobras. U-Joints, Transmissions, Differentials, Rear Ends, even twisting axles so that the white line on them looks like a barber's pole. I have never heard of pressure plate bolts shearing off. Coming loose and falling out? Maybe... but not shearing off.

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:23 AM

... but if you're really worried about them you could always safety wire them to the bell housing.

elmariachi · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

... but if you're really worried about them you could always safety wire them to the bell housing.

HA!!! I beat you to it! I am already taking them out and cross-drilling the boltheads to accept the safety wire. See, I am learning the Club Cobra way.

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

HA!!! I beat you to it! I am already taking them out and cross-drilling the boltheads to accept the safety wire. See, I am learning the Club Cobra way.

If you only used one single piece of safety wire, and ran that single piece through all six bolts, going around the circumference of the pressure plate, and did all of that by only working through the fork hole, you should receive the "Club Cobra Inspirational Achievement Award."

RodgerH · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you only used one single piece of safety wire, and ran that single piece through all six bolts, going around the circumference of the pressure plate, and did all of that by only working through the fork hole, you should receive the "Club Cobra Inspirational Achievement Award."

Definitely a candidate for the TV show "Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" !

Rodger

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:48 AM

I'm prepared to give him an award if just doesn't drop one of the bolts in to the bottom of the bell housing.

Do you have your clutch pedal wedged to the floor board to give you more room?

elmariachi · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm prepared to give him an award if just doesn't drop one of the bolts in to the bottom of the bell housing.

Do you have your clutch pedal wedged to the floor board to give you more room?

No, I disconnected the slave silly. And I wired each bolt head out through the BH hole and over to the frame. I didn't drop any bolts, so send me my prize. I really want your entire library of FE docs.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

patrickt · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Yes, they supplied 5/16"-18, 3/4" in length, no shoulders.

Ford OEM bolts (Mr. Gasket & ARP, too) are 5/16"-18 x 1" -- but they're going to have the shoulders on them. If those shoulders bottom out in to your flywheel then your pressure plate is not going to be tight no matter how hard you torque them down. If you have half an inch of thread grip on a 5/16" bolt, I'd leave it alone. I really would like an answer though from McCleod on exactly what it is they're doing with their bolts.