Bad Tranny? replace or part out?

[Sleeper]

I just took posession of an 89 MTX I bought a few months back. The TOB went south and they kept driving it. The engine recently had a timing belt, waterpump, crank sensor etc. professionally installed, so it has definite potential. When running, horrible sounds come from bellhousing. When clutch is depressed, really horrible sounds, and the motor will die without some throttle. I was able to get it in gear and move it, but it's not driveable. What have your experiences been with vehicles driven in this state of clutch failure? Is the tranny usually junk by this point? Could the motor be damaged by this? Anyone need a motor or have a CHEAP good tranny? I haven't decided if it's worth the trouble to do the clutch, as it needs struts and is, well, ugly. Anyone got any opinions/ideas? Thanks.

 

[Machspeed]

Well is the tranny bad or just the clutch?

 

[Sleeper]

I dunno. I haven't torn into her yet. I'm wondering if anyone who has experience with cars driven in this condition can give me their opinion on whether the tranny is probably shot or probably OK. My opinion is that the tranny is probably bad, but since I've never torn into an abused SHO that was driven in this condition, my opinion don't mean much here.

 

[billyshoe]

The car is a $300.00 car at best. It seems like the pressure plate fingers have worn away and it needs $600.00 worth of labor. I would not worry that the engine has been damaged unless it has been run low on oil. You will also need $250 dollars worth of parts. Also, a water pump,timing belt,& crank sensor does not nessesarily mean this car is worth fixing. The $350.00 in labor & $190 in parts to do this work professionally means nothing if the car is....old.

 

[revhardSHO]

it may just need a new clutch. A worn PP or TOB will make the car virtually undrivable. I doubt the trans is damaged. Pull it and see whats up!

 

[Sleeper]

Here is what I knew when I first posted:

1. The typical TOB shearing clutch fingers had occurred.
2. The owner drove it until it wasn't driveable
3. I bought a cheap ugly SHO that had recently had more than the purchase price in parts installed by someone who wasn't me and was a professional to boot.
4. I won't know definitively whether trans is good or not until I oust it.
5. The clutch costs $250 and sucks to install.

Here is what I want to know:
1. Have you personally dealt with this situation
2. If answer to #1 is 'yes', was the transmission good or bad after this abuse.

I have my opinions on it, I just want to know from someone who's been there. Thanks everybody who's offered there opinions.

 

[91taurisho]

Well I know someone that this happened to(not a sho though but the tranny was not much better) and the tranny was fine. It is slightly possible it is screwed up but not highly likely.

Scott