Alright I'm so dissappointed right now.
I finished up the last few things on my 3800 swap yesterday. I tried to take it for a spin for the first time since May. I started the car, put it in gear, and let up on the clutch but nothing happened. I just sat there as if the car was in neutral. It does this for every gear, R, 1-4th. It's a muncie 4 speed and Spec stage 3 clutch.

It's not a problem with my shift brakets at all. I disconnected the shift/select cables and put the car in gear from the transmission itself; it rolls around the garage as if in neutral.

I purchased the 4 speed from the Fiero factory as the syncro for 3rd was going bad in my old one. Could it be shot? Did spec screw something up? Could Purple reighn have machined the flywheel incorrectly? Either way I fear I have to drop the cradle AGAIN which really pisses me off- I'll have to borrow the lift and a few things AGAIN. Could I have screwed something up while putting it all together?

Please, discuss... I really dont want to drop that cradle again

I wouldnt suspect clutch unless you didnt torque the PP down, even then it should still have resistance rolling around.

I would suspect broken shift mechanism, but you should feel that fairly obviously trying to put it in gear.

Yea, your kinda SOL on this one. Its gotta come out.

Pretty much anyway you put the clutch in wrong, its either not going to release, or not fit.

Best I can figure, the shift forks inside the transmission are not moving. Its either that, the gears are stripped off the shafts, or you forgot to put the clutch disk in.

Take the cables off the transmission, and see if you can feel it engage the gears.

I already removed the shift and select cables, and it feels like it goes into all 4 gears as well as reverse. I swear I put the clutch together correctly, but I'm human and to make matters worse, new to mechanical things like this. I could have made a mistake. Definitely did not forget the clutch disk lol.

The clutch pedal moves with little resistance for an inch or two, then you can feel as you press against the pressure plate to release the clutch. Everything feels smooth, and there is no (or at least very very little) air in the system.

Could Spec have sent me a wrong part, such as a throw out bearing, that's keeping the clutch dissengaged even when my foot is off the clutch pedal? Could it be a machining mistake on the flywheel?

quote Originally posted by zi_gravedigger: Could Spec have sent me a wrong part, such as a throw out bearing, that's keeping the clutch dissengaged even when my foot is off the clutch pedal? Could it be a machining mistake on the flywheel?

My guess is it is flywheel/throwout bearing related - this could cause a slipping clutch. You can check this by removing the starter and watching the clutch disk while a buddy spins 1 wheel (with the other locked in place and the tranny in gear). If the clutch is loose, it will spin and you should be able to see it happen.

If this is not the issue, then something in the tranny is fragged - shift fork, spider gears, gear tooth, etc...

Sadly, whatever it is will require removal of the tranny to fix it.

If it were the TOB holding the PP open, you should have had a heck of a time getting it together. Did the tranny mate right up to the engine, or did it stop and you used the bolts to cinch it together?

If you remove the slave, you should be able to move the slave arm and feel the TOB moving, there is a bit of slack you can force it back, then you would be able to feel it move forward and contact the PP

Have you tried this, manually put the car into gear with the car off. Then press on the clutch pedal and start the car, if the car moves or jumps forward as you crank, then the clutch is working fine if not and you said that the tranny gos into all the gears, and the hydrolic has no air and good pressure then last is to take the tranny out and inspect the clutch..

Sorry man, but thats where i would look first.

Joe

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Before you pull the tranny is the slave cylinder for the clutch ok I had one a few years back where the slave was siezed with the rod extended so it was like having the clutch pedal pushed down all the time.
If not put the car in gear and try and push the car if it is rolling along like in neutral you have some major work ahead of you.
Also put the car in gear at the tranny and see if it at least feels like it is going into gear. Dan

Have an assistant watch the movement of the slave as it presses and moves the clutch fork lever. The movement should be about 3/4"- 1". If you are getting proper movement remove the slave an try mving the fork by hand. Can you feel the throwout bearing moving in an out? Was the fork lever installed in the proper position?
The fork and the lever have serrations that must line up. If everything checks out then call up Spec in AL and see what they have to say and don't talk to Jeremy as he is one arrogant SOB and will be of little or no help at all.

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87GT - 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 07-04-2008).]

quote Originally posted by FIEROFLYER: Before you pull the tranny is the slave cylinder for the clutch ok I had one a few years back where the slave was siezed with the rod extended so it was like having the clutch pedal pushed down all the time. If not put the car in gear and try and push the car if it is rolling along like in neutral you have some major work ahead of you. Also put the car in gear at the tranny and see if it at least feels like it is going into gear. Dan

I was thinking this... You did pull the slave off and check the TOB right?

Thanks for the help... I figured it out later that night. I must have put the thing together wrong or got the wrong TOB... the clutch isnt touching the flywheel at all, the PP is being held open. There is no slack in clutch arm.

It all has to come apart...

Did you use the TOB for a stock Fiero?

quote Originally posted by zi_gravedigger: Thanks for the help... I figured it out later that night. I must have put the thing together wrong or got the wrong TOB... the clutch isnt touching the flywheel at all, the PP is being held open. There is no slack in clutch arm. It all has to come apart...

Souds like the PP may have been installed backwards.

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87GT - 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

quote Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: Souds like the PP may have been installed backwards.

can you do that?

Lol, that would be one hell of a feat.

Im guessing he means clutch disk. But I can say from experience (sadly) that putting the disk in backwards will not allow the clutch to disengage. The springs jamn into the flywheel bolts. I dropped my disk installing it and must have picked it up backwards.