tifosiman

I'll throw my hand up in the air for the ring and pinion as well. Mine acted in the same manner when it went kaboom. This may be a good excuse for your dad to look for a tranny with LSD if he didn't have one already............

ERAU-944

i don't think miata parts would do you much good !

i've actually become quite good at it, although i don't really know what it accomplishes. i use the clutch most times - much smoother.

-Mike-

Chad S

I had the same problem. It was the rear dif. Three spline gears broke off. I replaced mine with a 88 Trans and Diff with 60,000 miles. It cost $1800 to have done.

Good luck!

aribop

Skip,
Thanks for the info.

It may have R&P damage, but it is definitely the clutch. You can feel the vibration from it when you depress the pedal. You can hear the noise it makes as you try to engage. And you can rev the engine in first gear with the clutch engaged and you are still sitting still.

I was able to move it out of the street this morning and that was all she wrote. Any more moving will be done by pushing the car.

As soon as we get Ashton's engine back together, mine will go in the garage for the clutch job.

Any opinions on Kolkeln's solid transmission mounts??

Thanks,
Albert

Skip

There are two failure modes for the clutch that would cause it not to engage. 1. the clutch never engaged the flywheel because the fork or bearing is locked out. 2. the cogs on the clutch disc (assuming rubber center disc) have given way. Hydraulic failure will ulitimately leave the clutch engaged through function of the pressure plate.

The ability you have to move the car a certain distance lends further to the ring and pinion theory. In most cases, only a few of the teeth are missing so you can get almost one full revolution and with luck maybe more as it skips the gap. You do not want to keep trying this as it will send more of the broken bits circulating through the transmission.

Unless you are still 100% positive it is the clutch, drain the transaxle just to be sure.

Again, I'm not there to feel it as you do - you may have the diagnosis smack on - I'll be happy for you if you are right - much easier/cheaper to fix.

Good Luck!

Mongo

I was a victim also of a ring and pinion on the 84, which is why I had a 951 tranny in it. Ashton, don't throw a 951 tranny in your NA because it will kill your acceleration. The final drive is too low for the car.

Check local Porsche wrecking yards to look for a tranny. Some yards will let you use it and offer a 30 day warranty where you can drive it or have it checked...if it fails in 30 days you can just swap for another one.

The grumbling is most likely a ring and pinion just like Skip and the others say. You can pick an NA tranny up for 500 bucks but I reccommend picking one later than 86 since I heard the steel crisis in Germany had somewhat of a tremendous impact on 83-85/1 NA brethen. perhaps 87-88 with a shorter 5th gear will be to your benefit, you can get those anywhere from $500 (with at least 120,000 mi) up to $1000 (being that the tranny has EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE) Call Parts Heaven up and get some prices through them. I believe they'd love to get a hold of your core tranny too since they overhaul them. Good Luck.

Andy

Campeck

um.....
it was my dads car...not mine...DUUH!!!!
heh.

Campeck

um.....
it was my dads car...not mine...DUUH!!!!
heh.

Skip

So, what's the prognosis?

Dave

Wait a minute, I thought an S2 had a spring centered clutch. Isn't the rubber center an 8v thing? OTOH, the S2 also isn't prone to R&P failure the way the 8v cars are.
From the sound of things, I'll say it sounds like an R&P also. BTDTx3!

Skip

S2 OE clutch is rubber center. Most should have been replaced and updated by now.

Peckster

You mean an old guy who wasn't into dragging lambos?

Mongo

ok his car my bad but you drive it and help work on it too, so its yours also from a certain point of view...

Andy

Campeck

yeah...If only!!!
He doesnt let me drive his car!!

ERAU-944

probably a good idea on his part.

of course you could just pull a campeck and take it for a couple hundred mile trip around the block

i guess you have to wait till after its fixed to do that though

-Mike-