I would get a new fly wheel also.
I don't think that one is worth messing with.

Where did the pilot bearing go? Did you take it out?
Good time to upgrade the stock clutch and give it all a good cleaning. Find that oil leak and fix it, too.

Well, now I feel like a dork. I rebuilt the engine in 05, my first rebuild and that consisted of pulling the engine, stripping it and taking the block and the EB rebuild kit down to the local machine shop. I'm guessin that it got pulled when they rebuilt it and I, not knowing any better didn't put in a new one, so I've been running without one for that last 3 years. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Well, glad you said something, otherwise I may have put it all back together again without one. I'll now go to the corner and hang my head in shame. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Allright, started putting things back together, replaced the rear oil seal and was chasing down another oil leak up high on the rear of the block. Started pulling off the "cylinder head rear plate" located on the rear of the head and coolant started weeping out so I bolted it back down. What goes through there, I was under the impression that it was oil since I have a spare one and the passage is oily, or does oil pass through it and it also acts as a coolant block off? Searched through my manual and it only shows 1 picture of it and no description. Marlin clutch should arrive this week, want to have it all cleaned up and ready to go when it does.

Assuming you have a 22R engine (not sure if that is the same as the 22RE back there) but that may be the EGR cooler. Basically has coolant circulating over a passage through which hot exhaust gas flows from the exhaust manifold to the intake where the EGR valve feeds that cooled gas into the intake.

Yeah Roger, they're the same.

Buck, that also might be your rear half moon on the back of the head leaking; have the valve cover off lately?

Thanks 4Crawler, Kewlynx. Probably is that half moon gasket, that was my next stop anyways. Received my clutch today, hopefully I can get it all together here in the next day or two. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

While you have that trans out, do a thorough evaluation of the input shaft bearing. You ran the trans without a pilot bearing for while and may have done some damage to the input bearing, as the tip of the shaft was unsupported. Rather than a shaft that is restrained radially at both ends, you had a shaft hanging in free air. Any imbalance in the clutch assembly would cause radial forces on the input shaft bearing that it normally would not see, as the pilot bearing would limit the amount of deflection.

I had a Honda CRX that I bought used that crunched up an input bearing due to this very problem. When the engine was rebuilt by the previous owners mechanic he forgot to put the pilot bearing back in. Good thing the magnet was right next to the bearing.

Good luck,

Mike

Thanks for the heads up, I checked the shaft and it seems to be in good shape. Little to no movement side to side and smooth turning. I finished everything up tonight and took her for a test drive, everything seems to be working with no weird noises or vibrations. Now I just need to replace the leaking oil drain plug, replace the valve cover gasket and leaking exhaust manifold gasket....seems like the list never ends! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Anyways, thanks for all the input, the Marlin kit was $200 with shipping if anybody wanted to know and included a 1200# pressure plate, clutch disc, throwout bearing, pilot bearing and alignment tool. Great quality as always with everything I've ordered from them. Thanks again for all the input.

Buck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />