What to replace with clutch in 2004 Mach 1??

[Torchredmach1]

I have an 04 Mach 1 with 79k on the clock. My throw out bearing is worn out and is going to be replaced in a couple weeks by my mechanic. I'm just curious, as this is my first time having the transmission pulled, what exactly should be replaced with it. I'm buying a clutch kit, not sure which one yet, and a ford racing throw out bearing as I hear the ones that come with the kits are absolute garbage. But I'm not sure what else NEEDS to be replaced with the clutch and tob. Do I need the pilot bearing with it, flywheel, clutch cable, clutch adjuster kit??? I just don't know what is a must as I am working with a budget. I don't want to spend unnessecary money if I don't have to...but also don't want to have to get the transmission pulled again in a year or two. So please put in your two cents and let me know what I need to make sure it all works properly. Im also open to clutch kit suggestions, thinking of just going with a stage 1 Exedy clutch as it is a mildly modded daily driver. Any advice will help a lot so thanks in advance!!

[chasetopher]

Definitely a good idea for the ford racing throwout bearing I had a generic one burn up after only 2000 miles and had to drop the trans again, I didn't even consider that with an aftermarket clutch the bearing will see more abuse. Your clutch kit may fare a little bit better but is a small price to pay for some peace of mind.

Resurfacing the flywheel is a very good idea, if you ever plan on replacing the flywheel now would be a good time.

If you decide you need adjustment of the clutch you can always upgrade later(nice to have though); don't need to pull the trans to install that.

As far as clutch selection goes, it depends what you plan on doing as far as future changes go and how aggressively you plan on using it. My opinion is to slightly over buy your clutch anyway since there isn't too much difference in price b/t a stage 1 or 2 or 2 or 3 etc. Ive never seen drive-ability issues with any factory style(sprung) clutch and even fully pucked clutches rarely have any chatter.

[ToplessPony94]

As Chase said, this is a very good time to replace/resurface the flywheel. You might want to consider an aluminum flywheel. The Fidanza ones are rather good, IMHO, and they come with both weights, so it's hard to order the wrong thing.

A lot of folks here like Spec clutches, but my personal favorite is McLeod. I chose a McLeod clutch with aluminum pressure plate and housing and I really like it very much. The aluminum flywheels that McLeod sells under their own name are Fidanza flywheels, BTW.

The McLeod throw-out bearing is also very good, but nothing wrong with the Ford Racing tob either. Good luck whatever you choose!

[serviceman]

I did the clutch in my mach 2 years ago I went with the ford racing king cobra, and ford racing throw out bearing, and pilot bearing as well have had no issues at all. I do limited track runs but like to drive aggressive. good luck on your decision

[Cobraman1024]

When it comes to throwout bearings you can either use the one that comes in the FRPP clutch kit or get the Centerforce throwout bearing which is the best aftermarket bearing out there. It's part number N1714.
I too use the King Cobra clutch kits made by Valeo and you can get them for as low as $160 or $165. I usually pick up my kit at a racing event so that I don't have to pay shipping.
An aluminum flywheel is the way to go for a pushrod engine because you won't feel the loss of torque down low. In a mod motor you'll feel it a little more but without knowing anything for sure, I'd say you'd actually have more of a hp gain up top because it'll be able to rev a little more freely.
You won't need a new clutch cable unless your factory self-adjusting quadrant is worn out. The usual solution to that is to replace the quadrant with an aluminum one and then the cable with an aftermarket adjustable one or another OEM Ford cable. An adjustable cable technically should not be used with a firewall adjuster but my cars have both and plenty of other people out there do it anyway. Maximum Motorsports sells oem cables adjustable or non-adjustable as well as complete kits with a quadrant and firewall adjuster. You can go with the cheaper made-in-taiwan cables that most major aftermarket companies sell but you're taking a chance on how long they will last. Personally I've got a Ford Racing adjustable made-in-taiwan cable and it hasn't failed yet.

[Torchredmach1]

Hey guys thanks for the input. I ordered the parts a couple weeks ago and are waiting to be installed this Friday. I ended up getting a stage 2 McLeod clutch, frpp TOB, frpp steel flywheel (I know it's not aluminum),pilot bearing, and got a new double hook quadrant, oem clutch cable, and a firewall adjuster in a package deal. All parts except for the frpp parts were ordered from Maximum Motorsports. The frpp parts were ordered on American Mucle. Would have liked to get a fidanza/McLeod flywheel but at nearly $500, which is how much they were on Maxmotorsports, it was totally out of the question. Think I paided about $260 for the frpp flywheel so hopefully it's decent, haven't heard of a lot of people who have used them so idk. The other thing is my fathers mechanic is doing the whole install, when I told him about the fire wall adjuster he looked like I was talking a different language he said he had never even heard of a fire wall adjuster, but as long as it came with instructions he should be able to do it. Makes me a little nervous that he doesn't know about it but I realized the majority of cars don't have firewall adjusters so im giving him the benefit of the doubt. Wish me luck, hope my clutch doesn't fry in a month!!!

[ToplessPony94]

Wow, Ian! Sounds like the aluminum Fidanzas have gone up in price since I got mine! I think I paid just under $300 when I got mine, but that was like 6-7 years ago. BTW, I got most of my stuff from MM, too.

[Torchredmach1]

Yea quite a bit of money for a flywheel. Didn't know at the timetp that fidanza and McLeod flywheels were the same. I think the fidanza flywheels on AM are less. But all water under the bridge now. Can't wait to get it all installed along with my spark plugs. My engine has been misfiring a ton and hopefully this will help the problem, but I got a bad feeling in my gut that it is a coil.

[Cobraman1024]

Yea quite a bit of money for a flywheel. Didn't know at the timetp that fidanza and McLeod flywheels were the same. I think the fidanza flywheels on AM are less. But all water under the bridge now. Can't wait to get it all installed along with my spark plugs. My engine has been misfiring a ton and hopefully this will help the problem, but I got a bad feeling in my gut that it is a coil.

It threw me for a loop when I read that you thought it was a coil causing your misfire; then I interpreted "coil" as "coil on plug"........they do have a tendency to fail. I've replaced at least two of them on a friends F150 truck.

For a better deal on an aluminum flywheel, check Ebay or one of the classifieds sites. I got mine on Ebay for $99 plus shipping and it was a Fidanza for my '96 Cobra which I think is the exact same one you would use for your Mach 1. The aluminum flywheels come with a bolt in friction surface which if you got the flywheel used for pretty cheap, you could buy a new surface for $75 and be ready to bolt it on for less than $250. This is one part that you should never have to come anywhere close to paying full retail for it.

[SPUDS MACH 1]

mine had a miss fire last season had plugs replaced and 1 coil on plug replaced cylider 4. Runs beautifull now really wasnt expensive shouldnt be a big issue for you