Well, here's the damage (pictures)

[excelguru]

Let's start with the flywheel, shall we?

http://a2.cpimg.com/image/AA/DC/33465002-2883-02000180-.jpg
Ouch


http://a3.cpimg.com/image/C9/DD/33465033-89d8-02000180-.jpg
Ouch


http://a1.cpimg.com/image/EF/DE/33465071-1c99-02000180-.jpg
Ouch again


http://a3.cpimg.com/image/37/E0/33465143-8ed7-02000180-.jpg
Something's missing here...

Honey, have you seen my missing balls?


http://a9.cpimg.com/image/65/E2/33465189-c21f-02000180-.jpg
Ouuuuucccchhh...

Well, looks like we found the source of that noise.


http://a4.cpimg.com/image/B0/E4/33465264-214d-02000180-.jpg
Introducing... the OIL clutch!

What's difficult to see here is that the clutch plate is completely saturated in oil (oil from leak at intake gasket seeped into the bellhousing). Due to the decreased coefficient of friction, the material has been substantially worn away (considering the car only has 6500 miles).


http://a1.cpimg.com/image/FD/E7/33465341-2231-02000180-.jpg
Look, daddy, it's shiny!

That reflective shine is caused by the oil slick.


http://a7.cpimg.com/image/35/E8/33465397-3a1d-02000180-.jpg
Oil pan #2.

Here's some of the oil that was left in the bellhousing.


http://a8.cpimg.com/image/7C/EB/33465468-46db-02000180-.jpg
Galled up

Hard to see here, but the tranny input shaft suffered some galling from the "ball-less" bearing pictured earlier.


http://a7.cpimg.com/image/67/EA/33465447-636d-02000180-.jpg
Hot legs!

The head mechanic learned a quick lesson about Cobras.


Well, there you have it. The car will definitely NOT be there. The family and I will be there (wouldn't miss it for anything). I'll still meet John and Steve over in Augusta and cruise over with them.

Tomorrow, we'll be ordering some new parts including a Ram clutch. Are any of you guys running a Ram unit? If so, your comments would be MOST appreciated. I've decided to stay with a steel flywheel instead of an aluminum unit.

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[jhaynie]

Keith,

It definately looks like a lot of oil and a lot of heat was somewhere it shouldn't have been (including on that guys leg). Is that burn covered under your automobile liability insurance. That one's going to take some work. [xx(]

If you want to leave your car in Augusta, you can ride with me, or Steve. We are both driving solo, he in his truck, and me in my Cobra (if it doesn't explode).:(

John

Unique 289FIA #9367
351W Fuel Injected

[excelguru]

John - I'll probably take you up on that one. We can split up the fuel and make it beneficial for both of us. That will also allow me to ride back in the same car as my wife & kid.

I'm actually glad that I decided to take the car to the shop (I almost didn't). Just think, I was about to attempt a trip to Alabama and back! I don't think it would've made it.

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[patrija]

Keith - Well, that simply sucks - sorry to hear it. Good news is you didn't get stuck in somewhere in North Georgia on the side of the road!

[clayfoushee]

Keith,

I'm very sorry, but great documentation on the problem and thanks..... You certainly got my attention, and I'm now a little freaked about having similar issues even though I don't currently have any symptoms.

I'm glad you're still coming, however, look forward to meeting you.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[gasman]

Keith, I'm also glad you are still planning to go to Homecoming in spite of your car woes. I know what a let down that is, but you definately got lucky finding out now verses half way there. And from looking at your pictures, I don't think she had much time left. Your flywheel is cracked much worse than mine was, cracks are a little deeper. The crack lines are almost identical and in the same locations. Brent and Rick posted their replacement preferences on the "clutch adjustment" thread. I decided to go with the McLeod aluminum flywheel mainly because I could get it quicker and it is 30 lbs lighter. SA needed most of the day to get a steel flywheel balanced. The aluminum flywheel was already balanced. SA also sent over a 12" Pioneer clutch and pressure plate to replace the 11" that came off. It looks identical to the one that came out of the car which has me a little concerned. I hope this one lasts more than 2400 miles.

Steve Foushee

[clayfoushee]

Makes you think about doing burnouts doesn't it. I think I'm going to "respect the equipment," as some race driver's say, a little more in the future.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[excelguru]

I'm not too bummed out about arriving without the car. I've been to enough Cobra gatherings to know it's the people, not the cars, that really make the event.

I'm not too bummed about the equipment failure, either. Let's face it, guys: these are very high-power, very high-torque cars and they simply digest parts faster than your average Escort. This kinda thing has to be expected from time to time (okay, maybe not at 2400 miles). It still puts holes in the wallet, though. Oh well.

Life's short! Drive hard! :D

(EDIT) - I just noticed... that pilot bearing is missing five balls... FIVE! Geez... she was ready to go at any moment. Dang glad I didn't get stuck in the no-cell-service zone between Columbia and Augusta! [:O]

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[bittentoo]

All off this bad voodoo, bad vibe, cobra breaking crap has rubbed off on me[B)] Though luckily it's not the cobra. It's my F250 Super duty Powerstroke that I pull the trailer with:( Filled up 2 days ago and now I can't go more than 30 miles before it starts missing and dieing and the "service engine soon" light comes on. I have to shut it down and drain the fuel filter. I have water in the diesel:(:( Changed the filter last night but didn't help. Had to pull over on the way to work this morning and drain the filter:(:(:(

Will be pulling out for Gadsden about 6pm this evening and can see myself pulling over every 30 miles or so along I-10 until I burn up this tank:(:(:(:(:(

Well, at least the car will be with me, just don't know if we will get there[xx(]

[rdorman]

Be sure that the alignment is dialed in when it is put back together! Don't by a heavier plate than you need, other issues. I have a center force and like it. Reasonable peddle presure and clamping force climbs as the RPMs do.

Rick

[bittentoo]

Keith,

Be sure and look me up Friday, I have wanted to meat you for a long time and have something to share with you. I won't be hard to find. I'll be the only Gashole there and with an orange car:D

BTW, really tough luck with the car:(

Kelly

[excelguru]

Here's what I ordered this morning:

- billet steel flywheel (previous was cast steel)
- "long" style pressure plate similar to previous and also increases pressure with RPM
- hybrid type organic & sintered iron clutch disk (good street/strip compromise)
- new throw-out bearing (at this point, why not?)
- new pilot bearing

Just your average $1000 parts order, huh? Hey, I still love this hobby! :D

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[spd4me]

Keith
I got a question for you. Are you saying the oil leak caused the flywheel to crack? The reason I'm asking is at 100 miles on my SA 396 Stroker, the rear engine seal started leaking. I sent it back and got it fixed.

[Brent]

Bitten, Have you put a camshaft position sensor in the truck yet? I am on my 4th consecutive year powerstroke truck and all 4 have had to have it replaced. Ford has 27 bulletins on the CPS. Truck will be running fine, start to miss,engine rpm drop and it dies. After a few times it will not start again. Get it checked. It only takes 5 min. to change.

Brent

Brent

[bittentoo]

Brent, does the sevice engine soon light come on also? Mine is.

[Poorboy]

<img src=images/icon_speech_oops.gif border=0 width=29 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Oops!>

[Brent]

Yep. And it throws a code that makes it very easy to diagnose.

Brent

[ralphscott]

Hey Brent (Show Dog) and Bittentoo (TN Orange) Question how many miles did you have on your trucks when the CPS went bad? my super duty has 75K on it and I have not experienced this problem "yet" I do love my truck and have a 54HP chip in it.

ralphscott

[Brent]

I have had it happen as soon as 20K and as late as 92K on four different Powerstrokes.

Just bad luck I guess.

Brent

[gasman]

Keith, Are you fixed? Hope so, if not let me know if I can help.

Steve Foushee

[excelguru]

Parts are arriving this week, so maybe (???) by the end of the week or Saturday. I'm trying NOT to call the shop every day to check on progress as I know it becomes tiresome to them. While they have it apart, I decided to go ahead and order a CVR mini-starter similar to the one they put on Glen's car.

It's raining every day anyway...

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[eliminator]

Smart Move on the Mini-High Torque Starter, it's not a matter of "IF" it's "When" you would have to change starters. The stock unit's won't do the job on these cars.

Rick

[jhaynie]

Keith,

Hope you get it back together soon, and correctly. Look forward to cruising over that way one weekend.

John

Unique 289FIA #9367
351W Fuel Injected

[Master]

RALPH, I HAD 45,000 ON MY F250, SENSOR CRAPPED OUT BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I USE A HAND HELD PROGRAMMER 20,60,80,100 HP.

Scott

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

[clayfoushee]

I use a hand held programmer on my Powerstroke, the Evolution, by Edge Products ( www.edgeproducts.com ). It also stores the stock program, when you first program it and you select 60, 80, 100 additional HP. You can also use it as a OBD II diagnoser and it displays the trouble codes. It works on any car with an OBD II port.

They publish the dyno results on the website. It's pretty slick.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[ralphscott]

Clay & Scott, I wish I had the diagnoser I just have the chip 54 HP as I mentioned earlier. With 75K on mine even with an extended warranty I'd hate for it to go on a trip while hauling a trailer with LiLcbra inside. On the list to get checked.

Thanks

Ralph

[clayfoushee]

Yeah Ralph. I have 55K on mine with an extended warranty. The nice thing about the Evolution is that I can restore the stock program IF I have to take it back to the dealership.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[bittentoo]

Ralph,
My problem with the powerstroke turned out to be water in the fuel. I have 160,000 miles on mine and haven't had and CPS trouble, I run a Superchip program, K&N, and Magna Flow exhaust. Very happy with them all[^]

[gasman]

Keith,

Give us a status report. Are you back on the road[?]

Steve Foushee