Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 09:54 pm, by: Barry Main(Barry_m)
Hi guys, I've owned my TT for more than five years and apart from regular service, haven't had to touch it. It's been ultra-reliable.
Now, however, the clutch is failing and for the first time I'm going to have to get my hands dirty. While I'm doing the clutch, I figure it's time to put an MDC kit through the gearbox as 2nd and 3rd have always been slightly notchy.
So, can anyone please advise whether an R 154 and clutch can be removed without taking the engine out of the car? I have a hoist as well as a set of proper garage-type ramps, so getting underneath the car is no issue.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 08:34 am, by: Barry Main(Barry_m)
Thanks Blake. Flywheel was going to be my next question. Apart from having it machined, is there much benefit in having it lightened (and rebalanced, of course)? And if so, by how much.
While I've got the car off the road I am also going to rebuild and hi-flow the turbos (already have the new steel turbines and bigger compressors after doing my son-in-law's car last year - we just bought everything x 2) and probably fit a FMIC - hence the thought on lightening the flywheel to maybe complement the extra grunt from the turbo rebuild.
And it's not that I hammer my car, Blake, it's just that when I HAVE to do something like the turbos - one of which is starting to whistle - I like to improve it if I can do so without a lot of extra effort or cost. The bits cost not much more than standard replacements and the only extra work is that the housing needs to be machined to take the bigger compressor.
Matt - go to mdcmotorsports.com, click on the logo at the page and scroll through their product list. They have what they call an R 154 rebuild kit which I think contains everything you would need to freshen up the box - synchros, bearings, seals...that sort of thing. Don't know whether it contains the first gear thrust washer - I haven't asked yet - but if it doesn't, they sell that too. Kit is $US 225 from memory which would mean around $300 landed here, and the thrust washer around 20 bucks. If you've damaged a gear or a shaft, the kit won't cover that, but even if that were the case, I think you'd still need all the bits in the kit PLUS your gear or shaft.
They also have a very nice bar and plate FMIC (well, it looks nice and they seem to know what they're about. One of the owners contributes to a Soarer site in America) and I'm going to ask on the Intercooler thread if anyone's used one. From memory, around $US 145.
If you have any trouble locating MDC, let me know and I'll post a link.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 06:55 pm, by: Blake Davies(Boss_da_man)
Barry Main wrote on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 08:34 am:
Barry Main wrote on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 08:34 am:
Thanks Blake. Flywheel was going to be my next question. Apart from having it machined, is there much benefit in having it lightened (and rebalanced, of course)? And if so, by how much.
There are pros and cons for an lightened Flywheel. The good thing about an lightened Flywheel is that your engine can rev up a lot quicker. The bad thing about some lightened Flywheel is the noise sometimes you can hear a rattle from the Flywheel on the lower rpm's.
Ben Socratous Goo Roo SA I am the fibreglass/kevlar/carbonfibre king!
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 12:00 pm, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
Barry Main wrote on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 08:34 am:
Kit is $US 225 from memory which would mean around $300 landed here
Via what form of freight, a dude in a row boat? lol Shipping from usa is mega pricey, even for small light things as their postal service likes money, lots of money. If the kit is 225us, and you do actually get it landed here for 300au, PLEASE let me know who through, as I have a few big items I need brought over soon!
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 09:53 pm, by: Barry Main(Barry_m)
I got that price off a thread either on Soarer Central or one of the other Soarer forums from someone who'd actually bought this kit. I'll see if I can find it. I'm thinking it would be by ordinary airmail as the kit doesn't look very big or heavy in the picture.
Also, now that I think of it, the mdc reseller I inquired with has an automated service that calculates the cost of parts ordered over the net as well as delivery costs. As I think I'm definitely going to have to buy this kit I'll inquire from this service and let you know.
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 10:56 pm, by: Barry Main(Barry_m)
Ben, go to Toymods, then find Tech and Conversions, then find a thread called R 154 Rebuild Questions posted by someone called delazy and go down to the eighth post (by a guy called kemicalx) That's where I got my info. I can't remember where I got my original figure of $US 225 but in the last five minutes I went back to the MDC site and note that it's now US $239 which I would reckon would still be a bargain if it contains what it says, namely all the bearings, synchros and seals. There is a heap of other interesting stuff on this particular thread including diagrams of all the shafts and gears of the R154.
Check it for yourself and tell me what you think. Do you know of another place to get such a kit?
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 11:51 pm, by: Barry Main(Barry_m)
From Commonwealth Bank Currency Calculator:
Foreign Exchange Calculator Conversion from a foreign currency to Australian Dollars.
Calculation based on rates as of 20-Jun-2008
US Dollar 239.00 In the form of Telegraphic Transfer Exchange Rate 0.9583 Australian Dollars 249.40
Also checked US Post Office, and depending on which level of airmail used it looks as if a one kilo package could be sent from between $30 and $60. There may be other ways too, such as UPS.
I had some turbo parts sent from England about 18 months ago and they came by airfreight (as opposed to air mail via the post office) and delivery was unbelievable. Ordered the parts online at about 11 pm on a Friday night Australian time, which was mid afternoon on Friday in England, and the parts arrived at 11 am on the Monday. Forty pounds (about $100). The parcel wouldn't have weighed even a kilo, so it was expensive by weight, but I couldn't fault the speed.
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