I read an article on how to do it, but it seems to apply more to scattershields. I'm just using the stock-style Ford aluminum bellhousing. How many of you checked the run-out on yours? Any issues? I noticed that my TKO had some vibration in the shifter after the install, not real bad. I don't know what's normal though, so I'm trying to explore all the possibilities. Anyone else notice some shaking in the shifter handle?
TKO 600 and bellhousing indexing - Is it necessary?
- Thread starter Mike92GT
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I have never heard of indexing a cast aluminum bellhousing before. I have always heard that it is needed with scattershield bellhousings because of the manufacturing process used to make them.
I personally have had the cast aluminum bellhousing on & off two times and have never had the need to do anything with the alignment. I have no unusual virbrations in my Tremec 3550. I do have a FMS aluminum driveshaft, so that may help.
I personally have had the cast aluminum bellhousing on & off two times and have never had the need to do anything with the alignment. I have no unusual virbrations in my Tremec 3550. I do have a FMS aluminum driveshaft, so that may help.
- May 8, 2006
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Yep, you will experience more vibration (than usual) and possibly driveline/tranny failure. Most retailers will suggest that you index, but will not come out and say its a must. Good luck. JRichker is probably right (normally always), but I think a 2200 dollar trany set-up is worth the extra trouble.
tunedin302
I AM the law!!!
I have a tko and a mcleod scattershield (same as FMS) and was told that indexing is not required on the mcleod scattershield by mcleod and d&d. Mine came with a sticker on top saying it had been centered. The lakewoods do require indexing. Never heard of a non-scattershield bell requiring indexing.
tunedin302
I AM the law!!!
Mike92GT said:
Definately, the TKO is much louder than the T5. At certain RPM's it sounds like a nut grinder. Apparently, this is normal.
352Ford2
New Member
the only time I have seen it needed on stock bell's is where the engine as been alined bored/honed excessibly (everytime you do that it moves the crank higher in the block), but as said before it never hurts to check, expecialy if you are swapping random parts around.
I found that to be such a run-around that it wasn't funny. I got the same deal, tko 600 and the mcleod (M-6392-c???) and I went ahead and threw my dial indicator on it anyway. From all the BS of learning to do it the right way, specs I can spit out is that any steel bellhousing needs .005" or less of runout, aluminum is .015" or less (has more give to it). Well the numbers that I got with the mcleaod were as follows:tunedin302 said:
....-.001
-.012 +.004 <--- Viewed as a circle obviously
....+.008
It took awhile for me personally to figure it all out but a .007" offset dowel put the final results to the tune of:
....+.003
+.004 +.001
....-.001
I would highly advise indexing it. This doesn't mean that you have to change anything, you are mostly checking runout and correcting IF necessarry. If not, I have heard of some early pilot and input bearing failures as well as premature front seal leaks. Like said though, an aluminum bell has a max permissable runout of .015", steel has .005". I could have probably gotten away with it, but the numbers on the sticker were not what I had coming from my dial indicator....????
tunedin302
I AM the law!!!
87'GTstang said:
I had a feeling you were going to say that .... well, next clutch job I know what I'm doing.
Mike did you read my link ? Buy a god quality dial indicator odds are you will use it more than once.
I have a tko and a mcleod scattershield (same as FMS) and was told that indexing is not required on the mcleod scattershield by mcleod and d&d. Mine came with a sticker on top saying it had been centered. The lakewoods do require indexing. Never heard of a non-scattershield bell requiring indexing.
__________________
Just because the hole is centered dosn't mean your dowl pins are correct. I would reccomend that you index the bell housing. I havn't heard of too many people checking it with a dial indicator and it being with in spec. But eveyone gets lucky sometimes. Regardless it is better to check it then assume it is correct.
I have a tko and a mcleod scattershield (same as FMS) and was told that indexing is not required on the mcleod scattershield by mcleod and d&d. Mine came with a sticker on top saying it had been centered. The lakewoods do require indexing. Never heard of a non-scattershield bell requiring indexing.
__________________
Just because the hole is centered dosn't mean your dowl pins are correct. I would reccomend that you index the bell housing. I havn't heard of too many people checking it with a dial indicator and it being with in spec. But eveyone gets lucky sometimes. Regardless it is better to check it then assume it is correct.
Aliate X
Member
You definitely want to use some sort of dial indicator. Even the slightest bit out can cause issues with alignment which causes wear on your throwout bearing, miss shifts, vibration, all sorts of stuff.
Trust me. Don't take short cuts, it will bite you in the ass in the end.
Trust me. Don't take short cuts, it will bite you in the ass in the end.
