clutch case cover is bent, what to do?

[Matt Timion]

Admittedly I don't know much about engines. Hell, I don't know much about cars. I've never even changed my oil before, but I'm planning an engine swap. Go figure.

Anyway, I was mounting my new transmission on my new engine today and I noticed that the bottom of the clutch case cover is bent. It looks like the engine was resting on the clutch case cover at one time.

Does transmission fluid only go in the gear area of the tranny and not where the flywheel/clutch are? If my cover is bent on the bottom should I replace it just to keep the dust/etc. out of the clutch/flywheel area?

if I'm going to replace my clutch case cover, should I just replace my clutch and flywheel too?]

I would post pictures but the camera isn't here.

###EDIT###

The part that is bent is #1 in this image:

[Matt Timion]

Some pictures of the bent cover:

[philmcneal]

wow didn't know you were as car illerate as me, at least your first task is a big one and hope it all goes well for you! if you can do this yourself man then you can do a lot of things on your own car.

I know the technical aspects of an engine, but to work on it I'm clueless and timid.

Right now I want to clean my 12volt batteries but am afraid.

[SVOboy]

wow didn't know you were as car illerate as me

He's not, of course, but he doesn't put enough miles on it to change the oil,

He did paint the whole thing himself after all, and did a damn fine job, I might add.

[Diemaster]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

He did paint the whole thing himself after all, and did a damn fine job, I might add.

of course u'd never know that b;c he didnt change his avatar :P

i would replace ti just for the hell of it. i mean after all u dont want dirt in your oil and **** ur "new" motor and or trany.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Diemaster

of course u'd never know that b;c he didnt change his avatar :P

i would replace ti just for the hell of it. i mean after all u dont want dirt in your oil and **** ur "new" motor and or trany.

I found a thread on honda-tech about this cover. Apparently some people take it off and are fine. Others insist on it being there. I'm going to see how much work it is to remove (like if I need to remove the oil pan to do it, etc. If it's an easy task I'll just remove the one from my existing engine and put it on the new engine.

[DaX]

I'd be willing to mail you one if you need it.

I surely wouldn't go without it. Any debris gets caught up in there...yar

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

I'd be willing to mail you one if you need it.

I surely wouldn't go without it. Any debris gets caught up in there...yar

Do I need to remove the oil pan in order to remove the cover?

I should be able to just grab one off of a junkyard car for a few bucks.

[DaX]

There are a few bolts that hold it to the transmission (I think even one of them sandwiches the plate between a bracket and the transmission bell housing) and I think two 10 mm bolts that hold it to the engine (these bolts point "up" instead of sideways like the ones going into the tranny). Oil pan removal is not necessary.

I've gone to change a clutch before and unbolted everything but this plate and was yanking and pulling on the transmission, only to look down and see that I had forgotten to unbolt this flywheel dust cover and had bent it all to hell.

Just go to the junk yard and pull one...you'll figure out how to get it off.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

There are a few bolts that hold it to the transmission (I think even one of them sandwiches the plate between a bracket and the transmission bell housing) and I think two 10 mm bolts that hold it to the engine (these bolts point "up" instead of sideways like the ones going into the tranny). Oil pan removal is not necessary.

I've gone to change a clutch before and unbolted everything but this plate and was yanking and pulling on the transmission, only to look down and see that I had forgotten to unbolt this flywheel dust cover and had bent it all to hell.

Just go to the junk yard and pull one...you'll figure out how to get it off.

This is comforting to know I can do it easily. I might have to wait until the engine is in teh air before i can replace the part due to very limited space on that pallete.

[mikefxu]

I just changed my tranny(96 civic) and the cover came off without taking off oil pan, but if I remember correctly on my 89 accord I had to take off oil pan first, if I remember correctly. It is a cover the protects debris from getting into your clutch/flywheel area. I would not run without it and if you have time get another one that is not fuxored up.

Here is a 88-91 CRX manual it may tell you the order to taking that part on and off.
http://www.crxpower.net/~silverkorn/manuals/CRX_Workshop_Manual.pdf

I did not see a reference to taking that part on or off to get tranny off.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by mikefxu

I did not see a reference to taking that part on or off to get tranny off.

I think it's one of those parts that they just assume you'll take off.

From what I can see there are two bolts that hold it to the tranny. I might just get a new one at the dealership today because I'm going there for an oil seal ANYWAY.