Date:         Mon, 15 Apr 1996 17:30:00 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Maher, Steve (SD-MS)" <SMAHER@gi.com>
Subject:      V6anagon un-V6'ed


Well, I got the engine out of the V6anagon to find out why the clutch pedal
seemed to be connected to some other car. Ominous notes: with the bolts out
and the engine on a sling, trans on blocks, the engine and trans did not
want to leave each other. A couple calls to Kennedy Engineered Products
(KEP) where I spoke to none other than Hobart Kennedy, who was there both
Saturday and Sunday doing his taxes (the American Way!). A pleasant,
knowledgeable, matter-of-fact fellow.

He suggested pushing in the clutch pedal with the trans-to-adapter bolts
removed, as a means of persuading the clutch to let go of a (possibly
warped or broken) clutch plate while simultaneously pushing the engine
and tranny apart. A clever suggestion, which I had completely missed,
and it worked like a charm, for about half an inch. Started shimming
the clutch slave cylinder piston for more extension until the eng and
trans were about 1-1/2" apart, then ran out of throwout bearing travel.
Gritted teeth, started prying them the rest of the way with the floor-
jack handle (blocking each side with appropriately-sized sockets),
until finally PIIINNNGGGG... and they parted company.

Knew that would physically break whatever was holding on in there, but
what the hey, it's broken anyway. "It" turned out to be the spring-
center clutch disc. As I rotated the engine to get to the clutch bolts,
kept hearing this musical jingling sound, which I've *never* heard from
in or near an engine compartment.

Unbolted the clutch, and a bunch of small, thick, and very twisted
springs fell out, along with sundry metal pieces. Found the center of
the clutch plate torn completely out of the disc. with the heavier
1/8" thick spring-center retainer in about four pieces. I have a hunch
it was mostly like that after it developed a bad attitude in San Jose,
and started eating its little springs at that point. Enough remained
that I was able to limp back to San Diego (450 miles). I completed the
breakage when I pried the engine and tranny apart.

This looks remarkably like the broken clutch piece the PO showed me
in Missouri, after he put in the new clutch I sent him and I arrived
to buy it. I sense a pattern here...

More to come.

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 Steve Maher   smaher@gi.com       '80 V6anagon w/Chevy 2800
                                   '66 Mustang Coupevertible, for sale

 Check out the cars at http://www.lookup.com/homepages/76242/home.html

              *** It takes all kinds to make this world.
                  That's why we aren't all Irish. ***
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