weird loud noises, Help

[SR20Essex]

I have an S13 240 with an S14 SR20det in it. Since I had the swap done I get this loud moaning noise when I push the clutch pedal in. Up until about a month ago (the swap was done a year ago) that pretty much remained the only drivetrain problem. when the swap was done I had them put a new exedy clutch in.

Now I get this mechanical gear noise when I don't put the clutch in, and gets really, really loud when I do. And I get a new funky grinding vibrating dragging noise when I use gears to slow the car, and only slightly less bad when I take the car out of gear and just coast. Either way its very loud vibrating moaning noise that makes it very annoing to drive.

Ive checed all bolts on the driveshaft, checked halfshaft bolts, I have a brand new center bearing, put redline MT90 in the transmission 6months ago, and redline MT90 in the used open differential 2 months ago.

I also replaced the clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder, steel braded clutch line.

My question is; does this sound like a major transmission problem or could it be something small like a throw out bearing or something of the like?

I mean would a throw out bearing cause all this racket and vibration?

[themadscientist]

Could be the input shaft bearing. The moaning was a first signal, you let it go, now it's a grinding, you better find it right now.

[SR20Essex]

I'm looking at $500+ install costs for a new(used) S13/14 transmission or $35+ install costs for a throw out bearing (which I would do anyway If I got another transmission). I would just like to know so I don't waste $500 on a new transmission when this one I have is fine, just in need of the t-out-bearing.

[SR20Essex]

Could be the input shaft bearing. The moaning was a first signal, you let it go, now it's a grinding, you better find it right now.

what possible damage could it cause?

[themadscientist]

All your gears ride on two shafts, each shaft has a bearing at each end to carry them in perfect alignment and meshing VERY close together. Now picture one bearing faling and one of the two shafts starting to wiggle around. Now watch as the other bearing for that shaft starts to fail from the weird loading. Now enjoy the scene as the gears on that shaft start smacking into the gears on the other as the wiggle turns into a full blown shimmy. Getting sick to your stomach yet? Pull the box and check it before buying another. There is no guarantee the next one will be any better.

[SR20Essex]

ya know; the way you described that makes allot of sense as far as what I'm experiencing. So, if thats the problem, I should just scrap that transmission? Or at least the gear box?

[themadscientist]

You have nothing to lose by checking the box. I drive a Skyline with munched 3rd gear synchros, you may be able to fix it. It sounds like the bearing to me, pull the transmission and check it before you commit to a replacement. If it is in fact a bad bearing you might be in time to replace it.

[SR20Essex]

thanks for your help,Yeah, I pooched 3rd to 4th about a month after my swap, I even found a nice size chunk of metal when I changed out the gear oil. I did a nasty miss-shift and its done a crunching noise with more resistance between 3rd and 4th ever since.

I'm still amazed this thing sat around for how many years, banged around in a box to get here, and still managed to hang on for another year taking some horrible abuse by being pushed to twice the HP it was designed for.

This thing should have died long ago based on how I drive; I'm not a bad driver but even the best of us miss a shift once in awhile.

[themadscientist]

I did a nasty misshift, going for 4th almost got it into reverse. I had no reverse for weeks.

[SR20Essex]

I know this guy who owns a shop, he specializes in SR motors. He drove my car today and said the transmission is eating itself and soon will be dust. He doesn't do transmission work, but he is going to look for a low miles replacement for me.

I have no idea where to get parts or I would just try to fix it if its cheaper. But he can hook me up for $300 with a different transmission.

[EazyBreazy]

it has been rumored that you can use a ka gear set to rebuild an sr transmission as the only difference is 5th gear and it hardly ever takes that much shock. pull the transmission check the pilot bushing(its a little ring of brass where the input shaft goes into the crank if it's worn to the point where it has groves in it, it needs to be replaced. while you have the transmission out of the car, check for play in the input shaft. if it has exessive play you may need to rebuild