NEW guy - 89 SHO has Tranny problems or clutch

[CiscOsys311]

Hello everyone, I am the proud new owner of an 89 SHO with 63k miles. These are cool cars, I would like to get this one running smooth as can be. Hopefully someone here can help me, its amazing what some of you guys have done with these cars.

The transmission does not like to go into Reverse. It will go into reverse if the engine is OFF and I start it in that gear. IT pretty much doesnt like any of the other gears either. With the engine off, it goes into the gears pretty easy With the engine on it gets pretty bad. Downshifting seems to be a problem as well. I already plan on changing out the clutch (any suggestions?) but I would hate to do just that and there are other problems which would make me pull it out again.

ALSO, the car has a NESHOC sticker in the back (NEW England SHO Club) its the tan color with the police grill. Also, it has Black ARE 16s with chrome lip. Maybe someone here recognizes it or knows someone who may have owned it a couple years ago.. I will try to post a PIC soon.

If anyone has some advice or help, I would appreciate it. I plan on pulling the transmission this weekend to check out the condition of the clutch.


Thanks
Michael

Manassas Virginia
[email protected]

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

welcome to the forum.

First things first: check the fluid leve on the transmission. There is a fill plug on the front of the tranny about half way up. It has a 3/8 in square hole that a ratchet will fit into. When you remove this plug, fluid should oooze out. If not, fill it up with Mobil 1 synthetic until it runs out of the hole. It holds 3.1 quarts. Hope fully yours is full

Second: if its tough to get into gear, this could mean the fingers on the pressure plate are worn such that you are not getting complete disengagement when you push the clutch in.

To get into reverse, sometimes I have to faniggle mine a bit. It goes half way in, then I slowly move the clutch out a bit then it slips all the way into gear.

Parts for a complete clutch job are about 300 bucks (pp, disk, TOB, and machined flywheel). I spent another hundred fitty and replaced my rear main seal, my tranny mount. Did the job myself.

 

[Bizzy]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the Adventures in SHO Land.

Sounds like you have pressure plate (PP) issues. It might not be a bad idea when doing the clutch job to open up the trans and replace the blocking rings while the trans is out of the car. The 89's came out with all brass blocking rings which can make the transmission a little notchy to shift. Providing that yours haven't been replaced anyway. You might check any receipts that came with the car to see if any trans services (other than clutch) have been performed on the car.

Good luck and enjoy the forum!

P.S. Glad to see you made it on with no problems.

 

[CiscOsys311]

Thanks for the TIPS guys, I`m not sure what blocking rings are. One thing I haven`t messed with before is any internals with transmissions. I changed a FWD ford probe one time which wasn`t too bad. I just put a new clutch and used transmission in it.

I will keep reading this forum to get some more ideas, i`m going to be putting the SHO on jackstands tonight and get to work with pulling the transmission.

What clutch do you guys recommend? I plan on adding NOS and running it at the local 1/8 mile track for the rest of this season...

Thanks
Michael

 

[TYSHO]

I`m not sure what blocking rings are.

Just another part no longer available!

 

[CiscOsys311]

Hey Tysho, i`m about to do about the same thing to my SHO. DId you convert to a ROD shifter? I have raced a good number of cars in my time but going from 1st to 2nd in this car is a nightmare... I have the cable style. I`m hoping that switching out the clutch is going to help.

What kind of solid mounts did you use? I think my mounts are broken too

 

[TYSHO]

Hey Tysho, i`m about to do about the same thing to my SHO. DId you convert to a ROD shifter? I have raced a good number of cars in my time but going from 1st to 2nd in this car is a nightmare... I have the cable style. I`m hoping that switching out the clutch is going to help.

What kind of solid mounts did you use? I think my mounts are broken too

The rod shifter is sitting in the garage, need to remove the exhaust from a parts car before I install it. If you are upgrading, you will need the exhaust piece that came with rod shifter SHO's, it has a bend in it to go around the rod shifter box.

I know the whole story of cable shifting with notchy gear shifting....

I had my MTX motor mounts done by Texantony, username on this board and Fordbastards.com, and have had them for a couple years. The trans mount was done by myself.

If I was you, I'd take it down and inspect the clutch when replacing it. If indeed the PP fingers are worn badly, therefor causing your shifting difficulties, the replacement should fix that. If it looks fine, then I'd look into the clutch cable and adjustment, actually that should be done before messing with the clutch, that could very well be your problem, clutch not disengaging. In order to adjust the cable and take out any slack in the cable, you need to put your foot under the clutch pedal and lift up. If it makes any click(s), then it has adjusted and hopefully cures your problem. After that, if it doesn't fix the problem and the clutch inspection coming out good, then I would open the trans up and inspect the blocking rings, but you need to consider all before that. It is not likely for all of the blocking rings to go out together. If you do open up the trans and need some quick pointers and where to get parts, give me a PM. Hope you get her figured out!

 

[CiscOsys311]

I would imagine with that extra exhaust piece, I would need to have an exhaust shop fabricate it into the system. (NON-BOLT in)

What kind of times are you running with the 89 with NOS and cable shifter?


Thanks
Michael
703-880-3504


[email protected]

 

[TYSHO]

I would imagine with that extra exhaust piece, I would need to have an exhaust shop fabricate it into the system. (NON-BOLT in)

What kind of times are you running with the 89 with NOS and cable shifter?


Thanks
Michael
703-880-3504


[email protected]

You can always cut it before or after the resonator, on the parts car or source of where you get it. The front part, where it mates up with the y-pipe, is bolted on. So if you cut it, you can cut from your current exhaust, bolt the newer piece in and have the back end welded. Welding shouldn't cost much. If you can't do that, you might be able to find a metal connector fitting that can be clamped to clamp them together. Either way, it will most likely come out the same price, but the clamping can be done asap by yourself and require no driving compared to a pipe needing to be welded on the way to a muffler shop.

Haven't been to the track for well over a year or two. Don't plan going with cables either. I need to get that rod installed, install a new disc, and new tranny internals. I'm not too motivated, all the parts are here!

 

[pjtoledo]

A bit off topic,,

A bit off topic, but is Vint Hill Farms still there?
Now, back on topic. If you're gonna race this SHO you should read up on exploding differential parts.

Perry

 

[CiscOsys311]

Off topic, YES VINT HILL is still here, in fact it is growing up like you wouldn`t believe. THey are developing the old army base into a Business center, they already have the FAA there. I used to rent one of the TRailer type offices for a warehouse and office space for my business. Nice place, they are builing 500k and above homes on the surrounding land....

Anybody know where I can find a ROD shifter? Which one will fit the 89. I will go look in the classifieds to see what I can find.

Thanks
Michael

 

[TYSHO]

Anybody know where I can find a ROD shifter? Which one will fit the 89. I will go look in the classifieds to see what I can find.

Thanks
Michael

You can look in the classified and parts cars here, or go to the classifieds on www.shoclub.com . You might be able to find one on ebay, but the ones on there now seem to be a joke with some weirdo upping the bid himself, up to $175 + Make sure you get the mounting brackets, you will need them.

 

[CiscOsys311]

Thanks
DO you think it is possible to get one from a junkyard?
I just dont know all the parts I need to ask for.

Do I have to drill new holes and what not? I think I need to get my hands in on this one and see exactly what I working with. I don`t think I am going to try and run this at the track with the cable shift. 2nd seems just too hard to get into under hard acceleration..

Here is a PIC, I took this tonight.

 

[Yamaha V6]

Actually, that's Light Titanium, not Mocha Frost ("tan one").

Sharp looking car, don't recognize it though.