Toon Chris Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I'm nervous enough at the best of times when my car goes into the workshop. This time the nightmare has become real. I've got a new Fidenza fly and Excedy clutch from Zmanalex and have been sitting on it for a month or so waiting for the cash and suitable time to have them fitted. I drive a lot for work so can't be without my car for too long. The car is at a local sports car specialist who were hopefully doing the change, plus gearbox oil, plus aux belts all in on day. Lunchtime the phone goes and the flywheel wont fit on the crank! Full credit to Alex who has done what he can to help but by the garage measurements the crank boss is .45mm too large (yes, less than half a mm). This is not something Alex has seen before as all his cranks are smaller. To cut a lot of too-and-fro short, he recommended careful opening up of the centre hole (as per the Fidenza supplied instructions) but the garage refuse to do this on the grounds that they could throw the balance off. So the upshot is that it isn't Alex's fault (he has been more than helpful), it isn't the garages fault as they understandably don't want to take the risk of knackering things (although they are probably being over-cautious), so the upshot is that the car will sit in the garage for up to a week, maybe more, whilst they take the fly to a local engineering firm and open it up by a gnats whisker, then put my car back together. To be clear, there is no winging here about anybody, I'm just really hacked off that my car is off the road whilst all of this is up in the air. Never mind the inconvenience, the cancelled meetings, the rearranging of calendars, I hate not being able to control what is going on and being without my car! If everything goes well then it is only a delay and some more (!) money. If not, God only knows what the next step is. My last car took a week for a clutch change too. I must be cursed. How I miss ESR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Not having a lot of luck lately are you? Hope you get it resolved Chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Ah mate, that sux! Supprising Alex hasnt seen one that size before, hes had quite a few engines! Very odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St3v50z Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I know of many Fidanza flywheels which have not fitted correctly by less than 1mm (common issue with Fidanza). It is very simple to re-hone the holes, and it makes no difference to the balance what so ever! Tell them to stop moaning and just do the job. It will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Unlucky Chris Hope it gets resolved with as little pain as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I feel your pain my car has been away a week now already and potentially away for 2 more but then she will be all better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toon Chris Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 I know of many Fidanza flywheels which have not fitted correctly by less than 1mm (common issue with Fidanza). It is very simple to re-hone the holes, and it makes no difference to the balance what so ever! Tell them to stop moaning and just do the job. It will be fine. I think they think if they do it wrong by hand the fly will be off-centre and so off-balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I know of many Fidanza flywheels which have not fitted correctly by less than 1mm (common issue with Fidanza). It is very simple to re-hone the holes, and it makes no difference to the balance what so ever! Tell them to stop moaning and just do the job. It will be fine. Exactly my sentiments indeed. The Fidanza fitting instructions clearly state that if interference issues are experienced at the crankshaft "boss" then this can easily be corrected by removing excess material from the fly with a 3 cornered scraper or by heating the fly on an electric "hotplate". I measured up 3 different crankshafts this afternoon and all would have accepted the Fidanza fly without any fitment issues. Unfortunately, Chris's crank is .45mm larger than the norm. and the garage was unwilling to follow the Fidanza fitting instructions. I have had to lightly scrape many a Fidanza fly to overcome interference issues but I have never had to heat one up. Chris, I hope that you get reunited with your Zed very soon and it was a pleasure chatting with you today. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toon Chris Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 Thanks Guys, and thanks Alex, I wish a chat could have been at a slightly less fraught time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmJak Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 How annoying, glad I didn't have fitment issues with my ACT or it would have bankrupted me at the time Hope you get it sorted some pal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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