Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

As part of the never-ending saga of installing a TKO in my SN95, I have encountered another issue. The TKO required a 26-spline clutch disc, so I called Hay's and asked for the part # for the correct disc that would fit the '94-95 pressure plate. This disc test-fitted with my current Hay's pressure plate perfectly. After installation of the TKO and Bellhousing(Tremec), gear engagement in 1st gear is VERY hard(with no grinding) and Reverse is impossible without some major gear grindage. I researched the part #'s for a throw-out bearing from an '87-93 compared to a '94-95, and found out they are the same part #'s. I'm not sure what the hell to think now. Something is causing a clutch engagement issue. With the stock '94 clutch cable attached to the clutch fork, the fork is sitting in the middle of the bellhouse opening. Is this normal?

Thanks again,
Matt

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

What kind of air gap did you have with everything installed? Did you use an adjustable pivot ball to set up the clutch fork geometry correctly?

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

yeah, sounds like a geometry/disengagement problem. How do the other gears do - if you've driven it.

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

Because the car was not street worthy, I only drove around the block and shifted into 2nd a few times and maybe 3rd once. The other gears shift great. The only problems are putting the transmission into 1st and Reverse.

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

Would you elaborate on what you mean by "air gap"? I picked up the bellhousing used, so I will pull it back off the car and see if the pivot ball has any adjustability to it.

Thanks
Matt

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

The gap between clutch disk and pressure plate when the clutch is engaged. If there's not sufficient gap, then the load is not being fully removed and it won't shift cleanly.

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

Or disengaged?

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

Clutch pedal depressed.

Re: Grinding in Reverse, 1st Gear Hard to Engage
 

The bellhousing has the stock pivot ball installed, so I am going to run an adjustable one down today. Hopefully I can find one in the state so I can continue moving forward with getting the car back under its own power.