Input shaft spline won't mate w/ clutch F54

[2ManyZs]

I wouldn't force it as you might end up causing yourself even more grief....

First, double check the input shaft of the trans to make sure it isn't bent. Lay a straight edge on the splines and measure it to make sure the end of the input shaft (or snout) that goes into the pilot bearing is straight.

If that is OK, I think I may have the problem solved.... and then again not...

Which throw out bearing collar are you using? You should be using the one that came with the 5 speed, not a 4 speed collar as they are longer. If for some reason you have a 4 speed collar in there, the throw out bearing is coming into contact with the pressure plate fingers before the trans can be fully seated and this could be what is keeping it from seating. Probably one of us should have thought of that a while ago.... :stupid:

Check what you have against this:

http://www.zparts.com/zptech/comparisons/pages/4tobear_specs1.html

[EricB]

you know what keith......

i think you found the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the throwout collar I used is one I had laying around and the more I think about it the more I believe it came with the Z when I bought it which means it could very well be a 73 4spd one...

When I had the new throwout bearing pressed on it I hadn't yet pulled the engine/tranny out of the Z which is why I didn't use (couldn't access) the collar on my 78 5spd....

That's probably exactly the problem... wow

and I bet the 4spd collar is probably longer than the 5spd collar by the 1/2" - 3/4" we've been fighting over for three days....

I think if this really is it - then this needs to be posted in the Tech Articles for safe keeping for future such situations....

-e

[2ManyZs]

Well, let's hope that's the problem anyways.... guess it should have dawned on one of us in the first place that this could be the problem.

The difference between the different collars is 4mm, or less than 1/4 inch, but, due to the fact you would have been trying to compress the fingers of the pressure plate while installing it, it might have been at least 1/2 inch or better.

Better to find this out now, otherwise, you'd have had a slipping clutch and a throw-out bearing that only lasted a few weeks....

FWIW, when it dawned on me, it took me almost an hour to find that link to the different collars. I knew I had seen it somewhere, but couldn't remember where....:stupid:

[EricB]

well i can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me... that and the fact that one of the enginneers brought his replica 65 GT350 to work this afternoon and just gave me a ride around some abandonned business parks near here... it was riverside revisited all over again.

well i guess my week is now complete.

i am re-dropping the tranny after work, grabbing the throwout collar and having it pressed tomorrow AM so we can put it all back together tomorrow afternoon...

now if I can just get the cylinder head back from the machine shop I'll be all good.

thanks again keith.

-e