I have a 2.6 5 speed SWB 1985 and thought it would be good to get the tranny rebuilt after 300,000 miles of use. It is starting to make a loud whining/grinding noise when accelerating except in 4th gear.

Also, when I drop the clutch in neutral it makes a whining, grinding noise.

What should I expect to pay? Is there any advice on directions/ parts to point out too the transmission shop that I decide to go with?

Thank you
I live in Long Beach CA.

Welcome to the forum and to the 300,000 + miles on the ODO <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
Now, that grinding noise that you are talking about is it when you depress the pedal?
When you say that when you drop the clutch in neutral it makes a whining/grinding noise I assume that the car is in motion, right?
It not necessary is your tranny, it could be your throw out bearing/Clutch/pressure plate or all of the above.

When was the last time you had a clutch job?

I guarantee that when he takes out the clutch, the input shaft will wobble around. Clue is whine/grind in all but 4th, meaning trouble in case bearings and internal shaft alignment. I'd estimate about $700 to get the box professionally rebuilt around here, plus perhaps a cluster gear set (countershaft and all the counter gears is all one chunk of steel). Surface the flywheel and replace the pilot bearing is about another hundred or so. CenterForce dual friction clutch seems to be highly thought of here. No personal experience. I'm a slushbox guy.

I think you could rebuild the tranny yourself if you're handy. May have to get some things pressed, but I never did. Need a shop manual. Use 89 mitsu starion internal parts for all but the output shaft (if needed, not likely) as they are much tougher and address known weaknesses in a box as old as yours. I just sold a rebuilt 4x4 m/t to a pickup owner for $850....

Hey Eddie, have you ever weighted a flywheel? Do machine shops usually do it and how much $$$ should one expect?

I have a 1986 SWB 2.6L, five speed. The trans was rebuilt prior to me acquiring the vehicle. The repair ticket was just over $1,900.00; half parts and half labor. The shop also R&R'ed the trans as well for the rebuild.

I've never weighted a flywheel just to balance it. Usually they drill out metal to do that. I've had them machined to lighten them, had them surfaced, and had them balanced, both alone and as part of the reciprocating/rotating parts of the engine you have balanced in blueprinting the motor. I seem to remember once that they had to use a slug of "heavy metal" pressed into a drilled bore to balance one that I had cut down. There are externally balanced engines that have counterweighted flywheels and harmonic balancers because crankcase size constraints won't let you put enough weight on the crankshaft counterweights themselves. 400c.i. SBC's are like that, where the 350 and smaller SBC is internally balanced.

I'm looking to add mass to the flywheel, for better low end torque and reduced stalling.

I've been wanting to try a flywheel weight on my 250 2-stroke...never thought about it on the Monty.

IMHO, adding mass will reduce torque, and will reduce stalling. The engine has to accelerate the added mass, reducing twisting force available to the drive. The added mass will store more kinetic energy, reducing the chance of stalling.

I don't know the weight of our flywheel, but I know that that Starion flywheels are around 35lbs which is a bit heavier than what we have.