What did he do?

[Kevin]

My 16 year old son just got his drivers license this morning. This afternoon he was doing hole shots in a near by factory parking lot when guess what....the 91 moca SHO now dosen't move; push in the clutch,let it out, no go. Turn the engine off..put it in any gear and you can push the car while in gear.Did he destroy the trans? Maybe an axle? What do you think? He was going to get this car but.......

 

[SHOMA]

Sounds to me like he wasted an axle.... PUt it in gear and rev, is the speed going at all? You should be able to get under the car and see the condition of the axles... GOOD LUCK, let me know what you find!
Kevin

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for your reply 95silvermtx....ya, if you put it in gear and rev the engine, the speedometer registers 10-15 mph.Think that would indicate an axle?

 

[enttim]

Actually since it is a 5spd I would be more likely to think it was the clutch. You said you rev the engine do you smell the burning clutch smell? While doing hole shots the clutch would be slipping since it is the weak link on purpose. I would find it hard to believe that you could bust a cv joint or strip them out in the spindle assembly. When you press on the clutch do you feel tension or is it spongey? Remember even in gear with a bad clutch it is only riding againts the crank via a pilot bearing the clutch does all the work.

 

[drivinhard]

The SHO has no pilot bearing. If the speedo it moving, then the cable is getting a feed off the diff. The diff won't move if the clutch grenaded.

Sounds like a busted axle or CV joint, welcome to the club

 

[enttim]

good point I missed that that part of it. Is that a comon problem then?

 

[Kevin]

Thanks enttim for your reply. Initially I thought he blew the clutch or broke the linkage or something like that but...I've had other cars with a blown clutch and if you put it in gear manually(force the shifter into a gear like 1st or third w/out the clutch), you could not push the car. The trans would hold the car regardless of the condition of the clutch. Thats why I think I have a bad trans or axle. I don't know but would appreciate some more imput. Thanks.

 

[drivinhard]

Just look under the car. If you see an axle spinning you'll know. Chances are, if the speedo is getting a feed, that's the problem.

It's a fairly common problem with drag style launches....

 

[luigisho]

drivinhard does plenty of runs at the track and replaces axles more frequently than anyone that posts here. His advise and experience on clutches and axles on these cars is very good.
Why he even made a "how to" video for clutch replacement now that I think about it.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks one and all for your advice and insight. I think its the axle which will be a father and son project. It might be a different story if its the trans....He is holding on to this car by a thread!
Thanks again.

 

[pjtoledo]

.............

It's a fairly common problem with drag style launches....[/QB]

What symptoms do you get when that pin shears off in the diff? On the broken CV joint, saw one pop today at a SHO meet near Muncie Indiana. Back to the original post, NEVER LET A TEENAGER LEARN TO DRIVE IN ANY HI-PERFORMANCE CAR. I remember what I used to do, damn lucky to still be alive!!!!!!

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[Kevin]

PJTOLEDO,I agree!!! I had serious reservations about giving him this car. I also remember my youth..67 vette,68 and 69 Chevelle ss 396s,w-30 Olds 442 and on and on. But I did say he could own the SHO in time but...one day and this!!!!Again, he has this by the thinnest of threads.

 

[Kevin]

Checked the car today thinking its going to be a problem with the axel or cv joint but....grab either axel and no problem. Both tight, no play. Put the car through the gears and the speedo reads 10-15 in 1st; 20 or so in 2nd and so on. Neither axel turns while I'm going through the gears. Can any SHO nuts tell me whats wrong with this car?

 

[Kevin]

Whats wrong other than misspelling axle that is!!

 

[fredhurderjr]

Kevin -
Worst case & the car's in decent shape, I may have another 91 Mocha coming back into my stable soon & I can never have enough parts cars.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Probably the best thing you could do is a) have your son pay for it; b) have your son learn how to fix what he broke; c) have your son learn how to fix what he broke AND pay for it.

You guys sure the diff isn't gone? My 89's got the tell-tale "ventilated" tranny case & it's locked in gear.

Best of luck.

 

[pjtoledo]

Kevin:
Whats wrong other than misspelling axle that is!!

Since the speedometer indicates something is turning, my guess is the spider gears in the differential. With the front jacked up, both wheels off the ground,,if you turn one wheel does the other turn too? Have it in gear, not running, the wheels should turn in opposite directions if the spider gears are OK. Did you check both shafts on the passenger side???? That side has 2, drivers side has only one.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[Kevin]

Thank you fredhurderjr & pjtoledo. PJ...I will check what you mentioned this week although I have been around this forum long enough to know that when fredhurderjr starts to refer to my SHO as a parts car I know I'm in deep s#*%

 

[projectSHO89]

Kevin.

1) You indicate that the speedometer is registering. Is it registering the expected speed given the RPMs and the selected gear?

2) If so, I'd pull the link shaft out on the passenger side and see if he sheared it off. Hopefully, you've already crawled under the front end and rotated the wheels and inspected the axles, CV joints and the link-shaft for obvious damage. If the speed indicated is wrong, never mind...

Steve

<small>[ June 24, 2002, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[Kevin]

Thanks projectSHO89...I got the sense that the speedo was not indicating the correct speed relative to the imput but I'll go out and look at what you have indicated I should check.

 

[Mans442]

Kevin:
Thanks projectSHO89...I got the sense that the speedo was not indicating the correct speed relative to the imput but I'll go out and look at what you have indicated I should check.

Kevin-

I will be in Hartford, CT this Saturday morning. I have the same exact car as you (for now). If you wish & if Winsted is nearby, I can come take a look at it with you. I have jackstands in my trunk so we can get underneath your car.

Jason M.