Opinions?

Local shop said $350 to install plus $50 to resurface the flywheel. So $400. $350 doesn't seem that bad. 5.7 hours is book time I guess.

I personally have never done a clutch as this is first truck I've had with a manual. But I am mechanically inclined. However, my buddy said he would help me and has done clutches on Powerstrokes, cars, 10 speeds and 13 speeds. We don't have a lift, but we do have a tranny jack. He also has a porta power which I was told helps I guess?

What you think, attempt it myself, while signing my buddy up and buy him an 18 pack or pay $350 to get it done?

What is real world time for your average Joe? I figure its a whole day project.

Can't wait to get the OFE and Mach 1.6s in.

 

i have put in two DD clutches in 2 6-speed trucks. i guess a 'power spreader' is a porta-power? yeah, those come in handy. i can pull a trans, install a clutch, and have it on the road in 4 hours.(granted, i have a big 2 post lift) one was my truck, and the other was one of my buddies. i charged him 300 bucks.

i think you and ur buddy will be able to do it pretty easily if ya have a tranny jack, porta-power, and a slab of concrete. go for it!

 

do it yourself.... it's not that complicated. A lift is helpful though. Buy some beers and enjoy...

 

Ive done clutches myself...

i didnt like it, but then again, i had the three ton floor jack, no lift and only my best friend who is a mechanic to help me... We put in the stocker i just trashed in my truck.... yes it is not that hard to do once you have the trans out and u can see how the parts are supposed to go, But it is a pain sliding that trans back in and trying to get it realigned properly to bolt it back on, it is much easier with a 2wd tho, but with a 4wd, that transfer case can be a moderate pain....

I suppose with a lift and proper tools it aint so bad.. But i know a guy down here that all he does is put clutches. he told me to bring him my truck at 7 am clutch i wanna toss in, as well as 400 bucks and the truck is out by 2 in the afternoon. no questions asked...

SO i suppose that is my next option being that i dont like doin clutches.... But hey its good to do it once so that at least you know what its like.. I did, would i do it again? well if i had to and could borrow someones shop?

YUP... but if i can afford to have it done right, why not lol!

Rick

 

I just did mine alone,as long as you have a tranny jack it doesn't get any more straight forward.The porta-power is not needed.Work smarter not harder.

 

i defiently needed the porta-power with mine. no way in heck it woulda went back in if i didnt have one. you might rent one if you dont have one just in case you might need it.

 

I would pay 400 bucks if I had a 6 speed. Heavy heavy.

Don~

 

I watched TiminVa install mine and there's no way in hell I'd try it. He didn't use a powerspreader or whatever, just some careful sledge hammer work. IMO its worth the money not to have to deal with it.

 

A guy can also get in over his head pretty easy. Often there are "extras" that you need to do once you get in there. If the pilot bearing has scored the input shaft, then you better be replacing the shaft at the same time. I like to replace the rear main seal while I'm in there if it's got 100 000 miles or more on it. There are often u-joints that need to be done while the shafts are out, etc. If you're up for all that stuff, great- at least you will know it's getting done.

 

You dont need a porta power. All I used was a piece of 4x4 and a bottle jack. They do the same thing and most people have them laying around.

 

I have done a torque converter twice, and installed a clutch, and about to do another tranny for my buddy. Not that big of a deal. Just time consuming. I had a tranny jack all 3 times, but nothing special other than that. If you have the tools, the time, and the place(a concrete slab), then its just a matter of wether you want to do it, or if you want to let that $350 of Bomb money go to someone else for something you could have done. Its not for everybody. It can be aggorvating for sure, but it can be done without a doubt. Your call

Eric

 

Sounds like I will try to do this myself.

Its a good learning experience, right

Also, thats a set of rims almost, if I do it myself. Or a set ARP head studs, or almost an ATS or HTT exhaust manifold.

Good point!

 

I think $400 is a fair price for clutch installation and flywheel resurfacing.

As DonM says, the 6 speed in very heavy, so be prepared for that if you do it yourself. The book may say 5.5 hours to do the job, and many folks take much longer to do it. But, if you know what you're doing it can be much faster. The last one I had changed took 1 hr and 50 mins, and was done by Clay Carrigan of Carrigan Motors, a Dodge dealer in Morgan Utah, who must hold the record for installation time.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but I am curious, what is the porta power used for exactly? I have done many clutch`s in the past and never used or needed a "power spreader" Perhaps I can learn something that will help me out in the future.

 

Exactly what I did bored a hole in one end of the 4x4 just big enough for the end of the bottle jack to sit into... Helps keep things stable works like a charm...