C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clutch question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-31-2014, 04:25 PM
  #1  
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: Beringen
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default Clutch question

I'm having fits with the clutch free play on my car.

Originally the clutch fork was not the original on my car. It was a type where you could adjust the length of the link between the clutch fork and the axle. The clutch fork had a sort of round dish in it where the point of that adjustable link sat in. Everything was kept together with a spring. Must say that it worked rather well.

When doing the restoration on my car, I changed back to an original type cluch fork and the fixed link. Clutch remained the same. Flywheel was replace with a steel SFI one and the cluch housing to a blowproof one.

I verified the height of the ball in the clutch housing and that was the same as in my original bellhousing.

I set the freeplay on the bolts of the pedal lever like stated in the manual, but I feel like the cluch only releases and the very end of the travel, which is annoying and making the car difficult to shift.

Could it be that the link is too short ?
Old 03-31-2014, 04:54 PM
  #2  
pauldana
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
pauldana's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 10,679
Received 396 Likes on 306 Posts

Default

you need a longer pivot ball, or an adjustable ball. Your steel billet flywheel is about 1/4" thinner, which throws everything off.... been there, done that
Old 03-31-2014, 08:24 PM
  #3  
Surfer69
Drifting
 
Surfer69's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2002
Location: Manhattan Beach Ca
Posts: 1,720
Received 19 Likes on 12 Posts

Default

What he said...... been there too
Old 04-01-2014, 05:16 AM
  #4  
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: Beringen
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

f*ck.

Anyway I find it somewhat odd, since the clutch is actually touching the pressure plate.

I think the ball in there is adjustable. So I need to adjust it out ?

Last edited by Belgian1979vette; 04-01-2014 at 05:51 AM.
Old 04-01-2014, 08:40 AM
  #5  
Garys 68
Melting Slicks
 
Garys 68's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

May need and adjustable pivot ball and/or different throwout bearing.
A good article on clutch fork geometry:
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/clutches_etc.htm

Originally Posted by Belgian1979vette
f*ck.

Anyway I find it somewhat odd, since the clutch is actually touching the pressure plate.

I think the ball in there is adjustable. So I need to adjust it out ?
Old 04-01-2014, 10:27 AM
  #6  
pauldana
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
pauldana's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 10,679
Received 396 Likes on 306 Posts

Default

stock pivot ball is not adjustable... yea, it looks like it may be, but its not:-(
Old 04-01-2014, 05:06 PM
  #7  
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: Beringen
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

How deep does the pivot ball need to be set from the face of the flywheel ?

I have a block saver plate on it and a Mcleod steel sfi flywheel.

Clutch is a centerforce I.
Old 04-01-2014, 05:10 PM
  #8  
pauldana
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
pauldana's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 10,679
Received 396 Likes on 306 Posts

Default

you need the extended clutch pivot ball or an adjustable ball from McCloud

I personally do not like the Centerforce clutch, I believe it adds vibration, and does not release 100% during high revs.
Old 04-01-2014, 06:47 PM
  #9  
DUB
Race Director
 
DUB's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2009
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 19,294
Received 2,713 Likes on 2,321 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Belgian1979vette
How deep does the pivot ball need to be set from the face of the flywheel ?

I have a block saver plate on it and a Mcleod steel sfi flywheel.

Clutch is a centerforce I.
The paperwork on how to set the clutch pivot ball should have been included with your clutch.

Taking into consideration the block saver plate...from the surface of the block saver plate where it would contact the engine block to the top of the pivot ball should be 4.75".

Also...with you using explosion-proof bell housing...have you checked your "bore concentricity"????...and parallelism also???? These should be checked and corrected if NOT within specs...and are in the paperwork from Centerforce.

Also...make sure that you have no free play ion any of your linkage ends. The ONLY place that there should be free-play...so-to-speak is the end of the rod that attaches to your clutch fork with the clevis pin. the end of that rod will be slightly slotted...and you should have the anti-rattle springs also.

DUB
Old 04-04-2014, 06:52 PM
  #10  
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: Beringen
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

To add to this : Hays said the flywheel is .940. GM has a spec of .960. Seems well withing limits. the difference should then be caused by the blocksaver plate.

Yes the centerforce adds vibration.
Old 04-04-2014, 07:17 PM
  #11  
resdoggie
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp

Support Corvetteforum!
 
resdoggie's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Posts: 5,338
Received 1,199 Likes on 925 Posts
Royal Canadian Navy

Default

Originally Posted by Belgian1979vette
Yes the centerforce adds vibration.
Mine doesn't. Maybe some folks didn't do a proper install.

Get notified of new replies

To Clutch question




Quick Reply: Clutch question



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:58 PM.