Clutch Replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 194
From: East Coast
Clutch Replacement
I will be removing my transmission for a rebuild very shortly. Assuming I will need to replace the clutch, pressure plate, TO bearing, and pilot bearing etc.
Any suggestion as to what replacement parts I should get?
I see some suggest LUK, others National or Auto Gear. What about the TO and pilot bearing?
My car is a '67 with a 327/300HP
Help is appreciated.
Any suggestion as to what replacement parts I should get?
I see some suggest LUK, others National or Auto Gear. What about the TO and pilot bearing?
My car is a '67 with a 327/300HP
Help is appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/l...model/corvette
Comes with a TO bearing and pilot bushing. Unlikely to give you any trouble.
Comes with a TO bearing and pilot bushing. Unlikely to give you any trouble.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 587
Likes: 351
From: Plymouth MA
C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified 2020
Clutch
I installed a Luk, model 021, in my 64 Coupe this past Summer.
This is, without doubt, the best performing clutch I have had in my car during my 50 years of ownership.
This is, without doubt, the best performing clutch I have had in my car during my 50 years of ownership.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 194
From: East Coast
Mike, I agree that my clutch may be good for tens of thousands of more miles. Just trying to be proactive.
I see LUK clutch kits for under $100 and I see Center Force clutch kits for $300+ how do I determine which to get?
Same for the TO and Pilot bearings. This a job I am not looking forward to. More work than I like !
I see LUK clutch kits for under $100 and I see Center Force clutch kits for $300+ how do I determine which to get?
Same for the TO and Pilot bearings. This a job I am not looking forward to. More work than I like !
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
If you're not in to constantly abusing clutches, the Luk 021 mentioned above will work fine. Smooth, low effort. I have one in my car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,539
Likes: 1,971
From: Temple Terrace Florida
While it's all out and apart, I would change the ring gear if even one tooth is bad and I would also balance the flywheel to the pressure plate. Lastly, double check the throw out bearing to ensure it is for a Corvette and not the same year passenger car. Jerry
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,352
Likes: 2,724
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
I have many miles on my Luk 021 clutch/pressure plate assembly. All balanced together and marked. You won't regret it for a street driven car. 
Dennis
Dennis
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 194
From: East Coast
What is the TO bearing for a Corvette. Why a difference?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
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From: Washington Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,463
Likes: 2,643
From: Really Central IL Illinois
Short throw out (clutch release) bearings were used in other GM cars also, not just Corvettes. At least this is what I have found in the past half century of playing with cars. So, don't go to the parts store or call up the vendors asking for a special "Corvette" throw out bearing. At best, you might get a laugh out of the salesman, at worst, the price may be Corvette "Triple Gold".
If I am wrong about this, everyone will get a good laugh anyway.
Ron
If I am wrong about this, everyone will get a good laugh anyway.
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Short throw out (clutch release) bearings were used in other GM cars also, not just Corvettes. At least this is what I have found in the past half century of playing with cars. So, don't go to the parts store or call up the vendors asking for a special "Corvette" throw out bearing. At best, you might get a laugh out of the salesman, at worst, the price may be Corvette "Triple Gold".
If I am wrong about this, everyone will get a good laugh anyway.
Ron
If I am wrong about this, everyone will get a good laugh anyway.
Ron
In the C1-C3 era Chevrolet brand (including Pass cars) cars, there were actually three different length throwout bearings.
'55 Corvette, first design used 1 7/8"
'55-'63 Corvette, second design used 1 1/4"
'64-'69 1 7/32"
I'd list the Pass cars but this is a Corvette forum. Used to be when you bought a clutch for Chevrolets in the above years, the parts guy would always ask you what length throwout bearing you had in the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3,678
From: Central Arkansas
A bent finger clutch and short throw out bearing can be substituted into any Chevrolet V8 car of the 60s/70s so probably a lot of performance guys interchanged them at the first clutch replacement over the years. I wouldn't be surprised that mechanical lifter engines in later passenger cars might have received a bent finger clutch as OEM but I have no information to verify that - maybe someone else with a mechanical lifter engine Chevelle or Impala SS knows. I would be real surprised if a Z28 had a flat finger clutch (but I've been surprised many times before). I still remember the old wives tales in the late 60s about avoiding diaphragm clutches because they would stick to the floor at high rpm - all apparently stemming from a few stories about flat finger clutches being used behind a high reving engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
I would be real surprised if a Z28 had a flat finger clutch (but I've been surprised many times before). I still remember the old wives tales in the late 60s about avoiding diaphragm clutches because they would stick to the floor at high rpm - all apparently stemming from a few stories about flat finger clutches being used behind a high reving engine.
That was not an old wives tale about the straight finger clutch hanging to the floor. At high rpm (close to 6000 if I remember right) the clutch pedal when released would actually pull away from your foot and go straight to the floor. When the rpm's dropped, it would pop back up on it's own.
Some mid-late '60's Chevy II, Chevelle, Camaro used flat finger clutches and some used bent finger. Some used the 1 1/4" bearing and some used the 1 7/32" bearing. The bent finger clutches weren't confined to the solid lifter engines.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 2,136
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
A bent finger clutch and short throw out bearing can be substituted into any Chevrolet V8 car of the 60s/70s so probably a lot of performance guys interchanged them at the first clutch replacement over the years. I wouldn't be surprised that mechanical lifter engines in later passenger cars might have received a bent finger clutch as OEM but I have no information to verify that - maybe someone else with a mechanical lifter engine Chevelle or Impala SS knows. I would be real surprised if a Z28 had a flat finger clutch (but I've been surprised many times before). I still remember the old wives tales in the late 60s about avoiding diaphragm clutches because they would stick to the floor at high rpm - all apparently stemming from a few stories about flat finger clutches being used behind a high reving engine.
Larry
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 194
From: East Coast
That was not an old wives tale about the straight finger clutch hanging to the floor. At high rpm (close to 6000 if I remember right) the clutch pedal when released would actually pull away from your foot and go straight to the floor. When the rpm's dropped, it would pop back up on it's own.
Some mid-late '60's Chevy II, Chevelle, Camaro used flat finger clutches and some used bent finger. Some used the 1 1/4" bearing and some used the 1 7/32" bearing. The bent finger clutches weren't confined to the solid lifter engines.
Some mid-late '60's Chevy II, Chevelle, Camaro used flat finger clutches and some used bent finger. Some used the 1 1/4" bearing and some used the 1 7/32" bearing. The bent finger clutches weren't confined to the solid lifter engines.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 2,136
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
I remember some folks mounting wooden blocks to their clutch pedal to limit downward travel too.
Fortunately I never had this issue.
Larry