How Screwed Am I??

[Diameg]

Okay folks,

It's time for name that problem. The fun SHO game where the replacement part vendor can win up to $2500 from the unfortunate SHO owner.

I did some rather brisk accelerating this morning. Everything seemed fine.
Later in the day, I went out and as I start from a stop, there is a 'clunk' low in first gear (MTX) as I accelerate normally (Sunday drive type thing). It is most notable if I start low in the rpms. If I rev it high, then start to let the clutch out, it is less likely to happen. The single clunk comes from below my feet area.
As I accelerate, especially in an average to spirited manner, the car 'surges'. The power (but not the engine) sputters as it picks up speed, especially in the 2000 to 4000 rpm range. Without any mechanic experience to back me, I still know that these 2 problems are related.
With the clunk, I though 'uh oh, I broke first gear'. Then, with the sputtering, I though 'uh oh, the clutch is messed up'.
What do you folks think? Does it sound like my clutch, or gearbox, or something else???

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Diameg (edited 10-28-2001).]

 

[philw349]

It sounds a little like engine mounts. They will cause the power to feel not there and then kick in all at once, depending on how much gas you give it. Reving it and then slowly letting out the clutch has the effect of gradually moving the engine until it rests on something. Thats how I used to drive when mine were broken, but it could of course be something else. Just a thought.

 

[Diameg]

Hmm...I never even thought about the motor mounts.
The only thing is that it's not like the power takes time to get to the wheels, I'm convinced I could spin the tires quite easily if I wanted to. Same with in 2nd to 5th gears, it feels pretty well normal accelerating except if feels like the power surges to the wheels, instead of a steady stream of power. This is very evident between the 2000 and 4000 rpm range, where as below 2000 it feels just fine (except of course for the clunk in first). Aside from the clunk, it does not feel like it's having a problem getting the power to the wheels.
I will check though to see if the engine is wobbling under power, as I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[philw349]

That's cool. I think mine still have probs, even after getting aftermarket. My car will clunk in first (or reverse) depending on the takeoff and I can't spin the wheels, the power instead goes toward making the engine thud. I am gonna take it in to Ford to get it squared away finally. Is it possible for the engine to come off its foundations? I mean there isn't any mounts left for me to replace. Good luck on your car, I think it could even be suspension related you could be feeling the car tilt back under acceleration.



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SS: Cold air snorkel, hi flow y-pipe,
Subframe connectors,
Motor mounts,
Sho Nut ceramic throwout bearing,
17 lb Flywheel,
Torque limiters,
SHO Nut Aluminum SFBs.
Going for the stock look

 

[Diameg]

Oh boy,

You replaced the motor mounts and you still feel it? What a horrible feeling, huh?
My car does not tilt back under acceleration. Also, the 'clunk' is not just as I start to move. It is after leaving, a few feet from where I started from a stop. It is also only in first gear. It just happens once low in the gear.
The other problem happens in every gear, in the 2000 and up rpm range. The engine sounds normal, it doesn't sound like it is having any problems. It feels like I were to rapidly keep pushing the clutch in and releasing it, in a very, very fast manner.
My gut feeling is that it is clutch or transmission related, but I could be wrong.

[This message has been edited by Diameg (edited 10-29-2001).]