Plate under Clutch area loose and rattling?

[jjs316]

I noticed a rattle a few weeks ago and i just thought it was an exhaust rattle and just ignored it.

Well when I was under my car changing my steering rack bushings I noticed a plate through a couple small holes that i could just move around as if it wasnt attached to anything. It is right in the area near where my tranny bolts to the engine. Anyone know what this plate is and/or whats its for? My guess is its some sort of shield or something of that nature

I wish i had my camera with me while i was under there to get a picture, if No one knows what im talking about, ill try and get a picture of it sometime.

And the easiest way to remove or reattach it..? because I believe that is where my rattle is coming from now.

[keltik]

I believe some models had a small plate fixed between the engine and transmission at the bottom of the bellhousing. It keeps crap out of the clutch and also gives you a fighting chance at recovering any sockets you might have dropped in there without taking the whole trans off.

Its not structural but you probably dont want to lose it. Cant remember where its actually bolted to or how you access it.

[decke48]

it bolted to the engine with two 10mm bolts. i really dont know its true purpose but keeps crap out of the bellhousing so you want to try to keep it

[jjs316]

it bolted to the engine with two 10mm bolts. i really dont know its true purpose but keeps crap out of the bellhousing so you want to try to keep it

will i be able to get to those bolts easily? or will i have to do some major removal to get to them?

[decke48]

ill take a look at them sometime today. but a least i think you could get a racheting wrench in there

[jjs316]

ill take a look at them sometime today. but a least i think you could get a racheting wrench in there

Alright, thanks, Id appreciate that.

I wonder though how they come loose? did the bolts break? or just eventually from the vibration, vibrate out?

[grayguy]

Just a heads up, both my cars, my old mud truck, and my friends huge mud truck (most older trannies have these same panels) do not have this little plate, and nothing bad has ever come from it. I'm not advising you take it off if you have it, but I'm just letting you know it's not the end of the world if you don't have it.

[jjs316]

Just a heads up, both my cars, my old mud truck, and my friends huge mud truck (most older trannies have these same panels) do not have this little plate, and nothing bad has ever come from it. I'm not advising you take it off if you have it, but I'm just letting you know it's not the end of the world if you don't have it.

Im not worried about removing it, the rattle is just annoying and if it bolts on somewhere, im just going to bolt it back on.

[decke48]

here you go.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/03/clutch_pp2-1.jpg

[jjs316]

Thanks! I appreciate the help

Looks like its gonna be a bitch to get to... :smt013

[Wagonista]

I've got the same problem, I thought my flywheel had gone to hell at first. Hideous rattling sound.

[Piddster]

That plate annoyed me, so I removed it. Good riddance.

[jjs316]

I've got the same problem, I thought my flywheel had gone to hell at first. Hideous rattling sound.


yeah its pretty awful. I always just thought it was exhaust til i noticed it when i was changing my steering rack bushings.

[jjs316]

Any one happen to know the easiest way to remove this plate?

I tried to bolt it back on, but I couldnt figure out a way to do it, so I was looking at it today and tried to figure out the easiest possible way to remove it, and I dont believe any way is going to be easy.

[decke48]

remove the two bolts is the only way. but the easiest way is to unbolt the pitch mount and motor mounts and lift the engine some to get a swive socket and 8inch extention and remove the bolts

[jjs316]

no, my bolts are gone, its not bolted to anything. Im assuming the bolts either vibrated out, or broke off.

It is just laying down there moving around rattling.

[decke48]

doesnt pull out? hmm still unbolt the motor mount lift it a little and it should pull out

[jjs316]

yeah, I was trying to get it to come out without having to do something like that. I figure i could get it to slide out on way or another but I couldnt. Ill unbolt it and lift it a little i guess, thanks for the help.

[jjs316]

Will I be able to lift it up enough without unbolting it from the tranny? Just unbolting the motor mounts?

[decke48]

should be albe to lift it enough. if not unbolt the pitch mount from the firewall