Trade your Fesiva expertise for two rust-free fuel-injected Festivas in Seattle

[scitzz]

Well, it looks like Devon527, a friend of his, and I are going to try to pull off a Outdoor Clutch Job on Thursday. The weatherman's calling for "Partly Sunny, low=40, high=48" -- beach weather, Seattle style.

Should I feel bad that the dealer's going to miss out on $100+/hour?

You should feel much better!

The haynes manual is very good at explaining how to do the job. It is very straightforward and easy to do. If I can do it, anyone can You can also call 513-astro42 anytime after 2PM Thursday if I can help any way...

[devon527]

Yeah I am glad you have that manual, between all of us I think we can get it done pretty easily. Gonna have some fun!

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Devon527 and a friend came down. In two low-light afternoons (Seattle is north of Montreal, which surprises most Americans), wtih me basically just watching, they did a clutch job.

The chosen method was this:
1. Detach sway bar from lower control arms.
2. Unbolt both calipers (keeping the fluid lines connected) and hang calipers from springs using weedwhacker wire.
3. Detach both kingpins from the struts (two big bolts each side).
4. Pull passenger driveshaft out of gearbox. Leave driver driveshaft installed.
5. Per Haines, detach and lower gearbox a ways.
6. Remove clutch, flywheel, and throwout bearing.
7. Have flywheel machined for $34.
8. Reassemble.

Detaching the kingpins from the struts and swaybar left enough wiggle room to move the gearbox away from the engine, without the hassle of undoing the nasty pinchbolts (which risks damaging ball joint boots), tie-rods (boots again), driveshaft outer ends, or any other risky stuff. Removinig only one driveshaft eliminated the risk of dropping parts within the gearbox and halved the risk of a driveshaft not coming out or going back in.

Roadtesting aways the rain stopping so the mud back uphill to the road dries up.

I'd certainly use this method again, particularly on a fuel-injected car (no plumbing in the way).

Two newbies "beat the book" on removal and again on install (about 4 hours each?).

[lanemeyer14]

Congrats!

[villageidiot]

good job fellas

[Charlie1717]

Nice job guys!

[devon527]

I'm glad I got the opportunity, it was awesome learning something new. Now to swap over the 88 to fuel injection...