I took a look at the flywheel today after removing it while replacing the clutch. The outside part darker from dust has the same look as the shiny part. Except there is one small scratch in the middle of the shiny part. I wouldn't think that scratch would make too much of a difference. My question is about the way the surface looked. It almost looked like it had been turned in the past. Because it had these parallel grooves ever so slightly all the way across it. There was no discoloration either just clean silver where the contact is made. No burnt marks and no chatter when driving. In fact it was shifting nice except that 4th gear slipping. That was a year ago and its been in storage since. I never tested it again after fixing the firewall. I just assumed it needed a clutch (stupid me).

After looking at it I had to wonder if maybe I'd goofed and prematurely replaced the clutch. I'm thinking my firewall damage that finally broke just a few weeks after the 4th gear slipping started. The clutch pressure plate still had half its wear if those cut grooves are any way to tell the life of the pressure plate. If so then I'm guessing the flywheel was resurfaced last time and most likely still good to go.

Any thoughts? I'd like to get it back together tomorrow before any shops would have time to get it resurfaced. But if I have to I'll wait.

I would put it back as is unless burned and surface cracked. Its hard to judge clutch life visually, at least for me.

Well I took some sand paper to it and what I thought was shiny metal was a little bit glazed with residue. I found in the Bentley what they called "cracks". I realize the outer edge of the area the pressure plate was riding had a nice indentation but after I sanded the area down a bit the rest felt pretty good. So I went for just using it as is. The clutch wasn't chattering before so I figured it must be alright.

Got it all back together except the driveline, shifter and a few little odds and ends. I used the rope trick for the first time to hold the crank while removing and tightening the flywheel. Thought it worked pretty well.

I only wish there was time and a way to of taken the transmission to a self serve car wash and cleaned it up. At least the inside of the bell housing got cleaned.

A can of Gunk, a brush, and a hose will do the trick.
Dan