​​​​​Understood.
I know when I had the issue (clutch slipping) with my setup that I purchased from Bill, I had told him that I purchased and installed the RAM conversion kit and it solved all my clutch slipping issues. He was less than favorable on the RAM setup but never said why.
The way I looked at it Bill was sore that I didn't try to correct his setup that he sold me. And even though he gave me some credit towards the clutch setup I bought from him, I lost major cash on his setup. I hope Bill fixes the issue you are having and treats you fairly.

 

I re-read this thread from the top and I am a little confused. The initial issue you were having was rough/notchy shifting. You were noticing bubbles in the master.

Does the RAM slave setup have an external bleed line where you can bleed it without having to R&R the trans?

Fast forward, you and Bill agree to ship the car to him in Arizona. Now he says you have a vibration that you didn't notice before? And now he wants to replace ignition components before even diving in to check/balance the flywheel anyway?

Did he figure out why there were was still air in your hydraulics?

I guess I'm just confused on what his game plan is. Fix notchy shifting issue or fix vibration issue that you didn't notice (might not even have a vibration issue?)

​​​

 

The RAM conversion does have an external bleeder. For me it was much easier to bleed the hydraulic throw out bearing than the stock OEM slave setup.
But the OP was seeing bubbles in the master cylinder with the RAM setup.
I never witnessed that on my setup and I have had my RAM setup for several trouble free years now.
Also I never had vibration issues with the RAM flywheel and I spin the LT4 engine to 6500rpm with my cam and programming.

 

I can see the confusion. It does have the vibration. At neutral and when driving. I knew about the vibration. But I was more concerned with the harsh gear changes. These screenshots should clear some stuff up.

 

 

So you didn't have to balance your flywheel from RAM?

 

Nope, I talked to Mike Norcia about the flywheel and he told me that the flywheel that comes with the RAM conversion does not require any balancing.
Now remember I also had the Spec single mass flywheel when I installed Bill's clutch setup that slipped. I had no vibrations with that setup either, other than it slipping.
I don't know if certain year C4 engines required the flywheel to be matched balanced. But my '96 did not require it.

 

My car is a 96 lt4 as well. Bill is adamant it needs to be balanced. Mike(see screenshot of the email he sent me) is adamant it doesn't need to be balanced. Lol I have no idea what to do.

 

Well, all this time I have not disrespected Bill because he has a great following on the forum but now I am going to; Bill says a lot of things! And I will not deal with him ever again. He left a bad taste in my wallet, and at the time even after paying him upfront I had to chase him/call him to send the products which for me turned out to be defective! And then he tries to blame it on my installation. Loctite on the threads of the pressure plate. Really?
I guess I was just lucky getting two different SMF's that I never balanced and they never vibrated.
And I guess the Loctite I also used on the pressure plate of the RAM was just lucky for me that it didn't ruin the PP.
And all the other cars I put clutches in and used Loctite.
​​​​​​I sincerely hope he fixes your car and if it is something that he fubared in your transmission he is honest with you and fixes it under warranty.

 

I hope so as well. Sucks, cause I really like my car.

Considering I get the vibration when at 3k rpm and above, whether at idle or driving, i wonder if it is an engine issue or driveshaft problem? No clue. But the car didn't have this vibration issue prior to my dad and I removing the trans.

Also, ​​​​​​@grandspt if you ever sell that wicked GS of your's, I'm a buyer

And another question. Do you get sort of a vacuuming sound when you let go of the clutch pedal with your ram setup? I have it on video. I'll upload it to YouTube, and post it hear to better explain what I am talking about.

 

Not talking about the whirring sound, but the "vacuum/suction" when letting go of the clutch pedal. Kind of hard to hear. But it is there.

 

Brian, I hear the hydraulic throw out bearing engaging and disengaging against the pressure plate fingers. I think I can hear something else, almost like your foot scrapping against the carpet? Is that the vacuum/suction noise you are describing? If so it might be the clutch master cylinder. I definitely don't have that sound on my setup.
On a plus note it looks like you have the shims correct on the hydraulic throw out bearing because in this video you can certainly hear the release point when you press the clutch pedal in.
Did you by any chance purchase the shortened shifter from Bill? If you did then that in itself will cause a notchy feel to the shifts. It shortens the fulcrum point and therefore the shifts require more effort, this is normal.
But as far as the vibration I don't have any good advice, in the past I had a slight vibration around 2500-2700 RPM (this was when I had my stock clutch and DMF) that I could feel but only detect with my Tech II clone scanner. It turned out to be a combo of an Optispark failing and a weak fuel pump. So you may in fact also have an ignition issue with the vibration or maybe a harmonic balancer/damper failing?

 

Any updates? Did Bill get your car squared away?

 

We are waiting to hear back from RAM. Bill very much believes it is a flywheel balancing issue. I'll keep the updates coming.

 

if you are getting the vibration at 3k rpm when not moving, how could it be the driveshaft? The thing doesn’t turn when you are in neutral.

 

I have also in the past had an issue with the front balancer being off and causing vibration. It makes sense to check the flywheel as that is what you replaced. But don’t rule out other failures.

 

You just taught me something I didn't know. Thanks!

Just spoke to Bill and RAM. RAM says yes, they might have balanced my flywheel incorrectly. So, I'll be shipping my oem flywheel to Bill. And we'll go from there.

 

I never noticed an issue with the harmonic balancer. But, Bill did take a look at it. Said it all looks fine. No separation or vibrations visible when the engine is running.

 

The latest from Bill.

 

I don't remember leaving anything untorqued. But whatever. I just want my car correct.