66 Clutch
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 658
From: Virginia Beach VA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
66 Clutch
I greased up the clutch yesterday for the VB Veterans Day parade. Half way through the parade the smoothness was gone. I see Zip sells a clutch linkage rebuild kit that has two new studs, plastic seats for the studs and a few other bits. The problem with the clutch is after it is greased it is very smooth. After a couple of hours it feels like medal on medal and it is not smooth when it is hot. On cold starts it is smooth again. The pressure plate, disc and bearing are one year old. I have no idea how old the linkage parts are. Do you guys think this is the right approach? How hard is it to take this linkage apart?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
I greased up the clutch yesterday for the VB Veterans Day parade. Half way through the parade the smoothness was gone. I see Zip sells a clutch linkage rebuild kit that has two new studs, plastic seats for the studs and a few other bits. The problem with the clutch is after it is greased it is very smooth. After a couple of hours it feels like medal on medal and it is not smooth when it is hot. On cold starts it is smooth again. The pressure plate, disc and bearing are one year old. I have no idea how old the linkage parts are. Do you guys think this is the right approach? How hard is it to take this linkage apart?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
:
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,797
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From: Ocean Township NJ
In order to grease both ball ends, using the zerk fitting add-on, you'd waste about a pint of grease in filling the entire bellcrank tubular section.
Last edited by 65tripleblack; Nov 12, 2013 at 03:01 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 239
From: Ocean Township NJ
I greased up the clutch yesterday for the VB Veterans Day parade. Half way through the parade the smoothness was gone. I see Zip sells a clutch linkage rebuild kit that has two new studs, plastic seats for the studs and a few other bits. The problem with the clutch is after it is greased it is very smooth. After a couple of hours it feels like medal on medal and it is not smooth when it is hot. On cold starts it is smooth again. The pressure plate, disc and bearing are one year old. I have no idea how old the linkage parts are. Do you guys think this is the right approach? How hard is it to take this linkage apart?
Make sure that there is no "slop" in any of the links. The clutch fork, bellcrank, and lower clutch arm almost always have elongated holes where the hardened pins connect them. Examine all very carefully. Weld/redrill or replace as necessary. The pin connecting the lower rod to the fork usually gets a step in it.
Last edited by 65tripleblack; Nov 12, 2013 at 03:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 658
From: Virginia Beach VA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Thanks John. I have keep the Z bar well greased since I have had the car. I can't speak for the other 45 years. I really suspect the seats are shot but I am going to replace the studs also. The Zbar has a grease fitting pointing down.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 658
From: Virginia Beach VA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Joe, thanks for the linkage tips, I think the problem is in the Z bar but I will check it all out.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
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