[Shotimes] Broken in Toledo... Any Ideas?

[Donald Mallinson]

I agree with scott, the pressure plate is toast.

I can fail with harmful consequences if you don't get it 
fixed pretty soon.  I would keep rpm's way low till it is. 
No more redline shifts!

Don Mallinson

Mark D. Mallory wrote:
> I'm hoping someone out there in SHO-Land can help me pin point this problem.
> I've got a few guesses... but quite honestly I just don't know what to
> think.
> 
> Driving down the freeway, ~65 mph, downshift into 3rd to pick up speed and
> get out of traffic.  Heard/felt something funky clutch felt a bit stiff,
> gears were jerky as normal, engine was a tiny bit rough under acceleration.
> Nothing that was too far from ordinary... at least not far enough to cause
> concern.
> 
> Got off the freeway, came to a stop on the off ramp and noticed at really
> strange vibration (on the verge of a shimmy).  Pretty quick pace, increases
> with engine speed.  I can engage and  disengage the clutch with no apparent
> differences.  I can shift in to all gears with a minor increase in
> notchiness (<-- Is that even a word?).  It doesn't change if the clutch is
> engaged or disengaged.  It doesn't matter if I'm in neutral, or any gear.
> The vibration persists and does not change, except with engine speed.
> 
> I can hear an odd noise coming from the drives side.  It sounds like it's
> coming from the bottom portion of the engine or could be from the
> clutch/tranny area.  The sound is almost like something is being brushed
> around inside a case,  there is a distinct tick... more like a light piece
> of metal hitting/brushing something.  The sound is real hard to describe (as
> all sounds are).  It's not loud enough to drown out my normal gear chatter.
> 
> Anyway, I can't perceive any loss in power, nor can I perceive any
> difficulty shifting.  The clutch is slipping a little bit, but no more than
> usual.
> 
> I haven't had a chance to fully inspect the car... and what I've written is
> what I know at this moment.  What are your thoughts?  Anyone experience
> something similar to this?  I have my suspicions but want to hear others
> input before I jump the gun.
> 
> Mark Mallory
> Toledo, Ohio
> '95 SHO MTX