Recently acquired a 87 T5 flywheel and it has some surface rust on the friction surface. Should I just run it and let it take care of itself? Or sand it/clean it somehow before installing?

I'd have it resurfaced.

JamesC

Looks to me like that flywheel is in need of surfacing anyway. Its not bad, but since you are there and putting in a new clutch (I hope) there is no sense using that as is.

clean it with scotch brite . put straight edge across , if you can see any light or feel any groves with fingernail re-surface . good luck .

i just pulled my t56 two weekends ago and put it back today it looked just like that i wiped it off and put it back together .

This is a budget T5 swap to get me back on the road after chucking my wacked out 700R4. I won't be racing or even really beating on it all that much. Trying not to spend ANY more money on it, I have all the parts here and if there is any way I can use them I want to.

That said, how much life is left on this clutch? It's supposed to only have a couple thousand on it. Like I said I'm just trying to get back on the road.

looks good enough, slap it all together and get that thing on the road. clutch seems to have pretty good material on it. surface rust on the flywheel won't last when it gets used.