I Need Some Serious Cheering up!

[Beanhead]

Ok, so I love my '94 Cobra, I really, REALLY, do, but recently, something happened that's really putting me down...

I was coming home from the grocery store a few Sunday's back, when all of a sudden, she started shuddering big time. So I'm like, WTF is going on? The shuddering stops for a bit, I go a little further, then the shuddering comes back with a vengence. This time, with a dull metallic noise coming from somewhere between the tranny and engine... Uh oh...

Thankfully, this happened about a 1/4 mile from my house, so she was able to "limp" back into the garage.

Well, upon further inspection, I found:

1. Harmonic balancer behind the crank pulley busted right off, you could easily spin the weight with your hand

2. timing chain cover with a slight hole in it (looks as if when the balancer broke off, it spun around it a bit, and ground it up just enough to compromise it, and squirt oil all around the front)

3. slight oil leak from where the tranny meets the engine, I suspect the rear oil seal was compromised

4. Tranny fluid kind of "spurted" around where the axle slide into the tranny

5. differential fluid squirted on my passenger side muffler.

Folks, I love my '94 Cobra, but this looks pretty bad... I've been told that it's merely the balancer and if I replace that (along with the timing chain cover), I'll be all right.

Anyone here had this happen to them, or does it look like I'm going to have to part with my baby? :(

[Black Horse]

We have the technology but be warned........



Once you start it will only get better! (especially if you start with the upgrades).

I can think of nothing better than spending the time, gaining that intimate knowledge, and having your baby back! What are you doing wasting your time posting here with tears in your eyes....grab some wrenches! Lets go!

[Beanhead]

/grabs wrench, thrusts hand w/wrech in the air yelling and runs to garage!

:D

[STU]

Beanhead,
Yeah, happened to me 1 week ago also.

Got my intake and valve covers back on. (looked in wrong place for problem)

Replaced my dampener and front seal. Temporarily patched my timing cover with JB weld. Car is back together and running great again. You will kiss $300 goodby though.

Here is a used cover on ebay. Sounds like you need it worse than me right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2434606760

Like Dave said, roll up those sleeves and dig in!
Clean everything off and recheck for leaks after you get the front repaired.

[Beanhead]

Wow, I was thinking JB Weld too! It seems to be a little hole, but then again, I can't say that I've gone over it with a fine tooth comb either...

Listen, when it happened to you, did you get some slight fluid leaks from the rear oil seal, back of the tranny where the driveshaft slides into, and from the rear differential? I think the shudder may have "squished" the seals a bit and allowed fluid to leak a bit. Just wondering if that also happened to you as a result...

Joe

[STU]

Not that I noticed Joe. We drove it about 100 miles Saturday and no leaks on the garage floor. :D

[Beanhead]

Good to hear no leaks! :thumbsup: I can only hope I'm as fortunate when all is said and done!

UPDATE!

Well, since you folks pumped me up a bit, I went ahead, took the radiator out, etc., and managed to get the crankbolt out. Wasn't as tough as I thought using a breaker bar, and putting her in gear so the crank doesn't turn. HOWEVER, then I go to pull out the balancer (or more accurately, whats left of it), using the proper puller, and that mofo will NOT budge! I'm pulling with all my might using a nice thick 2 foot breaker bar, and the damn thing will NOT slide out!!! I swear I'm going to pull her right up over the wheel chocks! This is like 10X more difficult than the crank bolt! So, I soaked the thing in penetrant a couple of times, and I'm going to leave it overnight and try again tomorrow. She just doesn't wanna give it up! :)



:thumbsup:

[scocher]

Originally posted by Beanhead
/grabs wrench, thrusts hand w/wrech in the air yelling and runs to garage!

:D

ARGH ARGH ARGH!! :wildguy: <-----Beanhead heading to the job!!!

[STU]

Are you using a puller like this to get the damper off?

http://cobrapages.com/puller.JPG

Did you remove the large washer with the damper bolt? :) Sounds like it is still in there.

[Beanhead]

Yes, I am using a puller that bolts onto what's left of the damper, very similar to what you've shown (thanks! :) ) but stupid me did something horribly embarassing... (oh yeah, the washer did come out with relative ease after I got the bolt off :) )


I kept turning the main bolt the goes into the crankshaft to the point where the "pulling plate" was flush with the crank hub. So here I am pulling at the main bolt with a breaker bar with all my might, swearing that at any moment I'm going to pull her right over the wheel chocks, and after a couple of tries, I soaked the thing in penetrant fluid, and called it night.

Well, this morning I woke up and realized what a moron I was. I was using the puller incorrectly! All I was doing was tightening the "puller plate" to the crank!!!! All I had to do was tighten the bolts on the "puller plate" that are bolted onto the remainder of the balancer, that's how the balancer is pulled towards the plate, thus removed!!! ARRRGGH!

Hope someone at least gets a laugh out of this one...

/on/dunce cap

[Beanhead]

Wait a minute, I think I spoke too soon? If the "puller plate" is flush with the crank, and you keep turning the main bolt, that should still slide the balancer up towards the plate, as the edge of the balancer is at least several millimeters from the edge of the crank right?

Yeah, I'm qualified to work on Cobra's after I learn how to correctly use a puller... !

/on/dunce cap, again...

[Lumpydogs]

This might sound dumb but...... Did you remove the thick washer
that sets flush on/in the crank pulley. On the 2001's there is
a thick washer behind the surface washer that needs to be removed. It is usually stuck there by over flowed high temp sealant. If this washer is not removed you will be pushing the crank pulley against itself and not the crank. I'm not sure if the 94's are this way. The crank pulley/balancer should slide off with only minor wrenching. Also, can you set three screws into the pulley. If you can only get two the pulley puller with not work. Hope this helps. ;)

[STU]

The puller does not thread into the crank! Look at my picture.
WITH THE PULLEY REMOVED from the dampner, use two of the pulley bolts and fasten the remover tool to the damper. Tighten the threaded bolt on the puller. The cone shapped piece at the end of the threaded bolt will seat against the end of the crank and push the puller out as you continue to tighten. Make sure no washers are left in the dampner so you are pushing on the end of the crank.

[Beanhead]

Acutally, my puller threads right into the crank! The threads are the same... It screws all the way to the end, oh crap, I didn't put that cone shaped piece at the end 'cause I was afraid it would get stuck in there, without it, it's just going to "jam" itself at the end of the shaft and not turn, and try and turn the whole crank with it...damnit!

Oh yeah, and that's exactly what I did, I used two of the pulley bolts to attach to the puller.

and Lumpydogs, yes the washer came out, and I'll see if I can get 3 bolts instead of 2.

Thing is, I noticed there's a fair amount of rust in that distance between the edge of the balancer, and the edge of the crank, and I'm sure that's not making matters easier... :(

I swear I'm qualified to work on my Cobra...

[STU]

Now we are getting somewhere. ;) Use the larger of the two cones on the end of the tool.

[Lumpydogs]

Stu is correct & you must have three bolts to pull the pulley off.
If not the puller will be pulling off-center. This is assuming that your dampener has three equally spaced threaded holes. I know the 2001 Cobra is like this.

You will be amazed at how easy this is, once you get it figured out. Good Luck:thumbsup:

[STU]

Lumpydogs, using a puller like mine only two bolts will line up. (top and bottom center) Mine is the same as the example on page 2A-21 of my Haynes manual.

[scocher]

Originally posted by Beanhead
Yes, I am using a puller that bolts onto what's left of the damper, very similar to what you've shown (thanks! :) ) but stupid me did something horribly embarassing... (oh yeah, the washer did come out with relative ease after I got the bolt off :) )

... ARRRGGH!

Hope someone at least gets a laugh out of this one...

/on/dunce cap

Not me. :eek: I totally have no idea what you guys are talking about. I guess I'll stick to the goofing off that goes on in some of the threads of the Members Only Forum ;) :D

[scocher]

Originally posted by Beanhead
Wait a minute, I think I spoke too soon? If the "puller plate" is flush :flush: with the crank ...
/on/dunce cap, again...

:rotf: Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I had to add my two cents worth. :D