[russelljones48]

OK, so I received my M4 roadster kit about 2 weeks ago but FFR has back ordered some of the key ingredients needed to get me started. Body is on the buck and frame is on the dolly awaiting said parts.

So, I'm biding my time accumulating the needed bits and pieces. Found a '98 Lincoln M8 IRS yesterday and will pick that up and get it to the re-builder this week. Next up will be mating the TKO600 to the Coyote. Everyone including FFR recommends the QT bell housing but I'm hoping to save a little in this area since the car should never see "explosive" RPMs.

My question? What stock bell housing will work with this combo?

 

[russelljones48]

Clutch

Ooops. Forgot to ask the question that will probably create some considerable debate: What's the "BEST" clutch?

Remember it will be street driven - occasionally by my better half - and I'm planing to start with cable actuation. Cost is an object here as well.

 

[Avalanche325]

I would not try to save money on a bell housing. If you need a TKO600, and you do with a Coyote, you have enough power to explode a clutch.

Best clutch, who knows? There are some things that run in trends around here over the years. There is usually good reason for it. Experience good and bad with a product. The current trend in clutches seems to be RAM.

 

[Cyclotic]

Call Mike Forte or Gordon Levy. Either one of them will help you with what you need.

 

[JKolbfleisch]

I was supposed to pick my kit up last week ... and then again this week ... but these non-stop Northeast snowstorms keep screwing things up!!

So out of curiosity, what major items are currently on backorder? Anything that would keep it from becoming a roller?

 

[russelljones48]

Missing pieces

Adjustable upper control arms, front hubs, outer tie rod ends, and manual steering rack are back ordered - among others. but those are the ones required early in the build.

 

[russelljones48]

missing pieces

OH and the proverbial rims. I'm in the process of acquiring some wheels/tires to make it a roller.....

 

[2bking]

My question? What stock bell housing will work with this combo?

Ford Bell housing, Ford Racing p/n M-6392-M46, Bell housing Bolt Kit, Ford Racing p/n M-7771-A

Hope this helps.

 

[BEAR-AvHISTORY]

^^^^^

Have the same bell housing on mine with a Centerforce clutch. Also got an extender for the clutch fork from Mike Forte. This will help the wife by reducing the pedal effort.

EDIT:Mike had a special on clutch cables. You might want to see if its still in effect as the cable is a potential fail point that will leave you waiting for AAA. Good plan to carry a spare.

 

[CHOTIS BILL]

^^^^^


EDIT:Mike had a special on clutch cables. You might want to see if its still in effect as the cable is a potential fail point that will leave you waiting for AAA. Good plan to carry a spare.

I haven’t driven a car with a TKO transmission but keep hearing that if the clutch cable breaks you are stranded. I have driven several car that experience clutch linkage failure but was always able to get home by matching speeds to shift and stopping the engine at stop lights, putting it in first and starting up on the starter motor and I was on my way again. Are these transmission that hard to shift?

Bill Lomenick

 

[russelljones48]

Kevin,

Thanks and it looks like you're a pilot.. If you ever get to the Lake Norman airport you can walk to the end of the runway and you'd be at my house!!

BTW - that's an invitation

Russell

 

[russelljones48]

King,

Do you know if that BH was "stock" on any production cars?

Russell

 

[mikeinatlanta]

Outside of making over 1,000hp on a drag strip, try and find an example of a coyote engine car blowing a flywheel. In fact, try and find any example of a stock bell housing being penetrated on a modern car. Not saying it can't happen, but there are far more statistically relevant places to spend money. I'm using a stock T-5 bell housing, but my flywheel is flyweight aluminum and wouldn't go through the bell housing even if it did blow. My backup is a Kevlar liner inside the tranny tunnel. Not SFI approved, but I don't care.

For the clutch, do yourself and the wife a favor and go hydraulic. That is worth every penny.

 

[russelljones48]

missing parts

Got notice from FFR that some of the parts are shipping today and the "best guess" on the wheels is EOM Feb.

 

[russelljones48]

So, yesterday was a good day!!

The upper control arms arrived! Still no steering rack, but I can get started now. Thank you all for your advice and the benefit of your experience. I think I've decided on the drive train. Spec now makes a 9 bolt clutch so, I'm going with that - I got a good recommendation, the price is reasonable, and I avoid having to buy a flywheel. Ford racing bellhousing, and TKO 600. Picked up the Mark VIII rear, got it disassembled and the rebuilder has it, so I have most of the driveline pieces too. Gotta few orders to place but I think I've made good choices. We'll see :001_smile:

 

[soaringDude]

Huh... I got the manual rack but not upper control arms! Which is not helping me as I am planning on putting a power steering rack. If you were closer, you could have taken it from me!

The upper control arms arrived! Still no steering rack, but I can get started now. Thank you all for your advice and the benefit of your experience. I think I've decided on the drive train. Spec now makes a 9 bolt clutch so, I'm going with that - I got a good recommendation, the price is reasonable, and I avoid having to buy a flywheel. Ford racing bellhousing, and TKO 600. Picked up the Mark VIII rear, got it disassembled and the rebuilder has it, so I have most of the driveline pieces too. Gotta few orders to place but I think I've made good choices. We'll see :001_smile:

 

[russelljones48]

FFR Wheels

I got an email response from FFR. Wheels should begin shipping in the next two weeks. This is confirming another post I saw.

 

[russelljones48]

That is too bad. I still have a house in the bay area but haven't lived there since 1990. Do miss it though.

 

[russelljones48]

Driveline

So the pieces are starting to arrive!! Spec stage 2 clutch (9-bolt which mates to the stock Coyote flywheel), just got a call and the TKO 600 is in town and will be delivered on Monday, and the Quick Time bell housing arrived today as well. I went with the QT not because I feel a need for the added safety but because I got a very good price - only about $100 (not $200) more than the FR unit and I'm told they are quite easy to install and work on later if the need arises.

 

[russelljones48]

Gas Tank

So, I happened to "stumble on" a 2003 gas tank and decided to try it. The basic tank looks exactly the same as the older unit but it has a smaller diameter filler neck with anti-siphon and rollover valve. Since the smaller tube might solve the interference problem that the earlier/fatter neck has it seemed like it was worth the effort and small outlay. Does anyone have any experience with this later version of the tank? Have I wasted some time and money?