Our 1969 Coupe has never shifted good since the day that we bought it in Carlisle 2009.

Clutch and clutch parts have been worked on and replaced in the past 2009-2010 so it is not OEM. The original Muncie shifter has been replaced with a reproduction Muncie shifter. It still does not shift positive with a high level of confidence. Sometimes it will pop out of first gear when we start from a dead stop at a stop sign or red light. Really unnerving when I am on a slight incline and people pull up close behind me. I've learned through experience to ratchet through the gears while I am sitting just to make sure it is securely in 1st gear on an incline. Gears grind slightly when shifting into reverse and sometimes from reverse to 1st gear. Shift from 1st to 2nd is usually fine and shift from 2nd -3rd is fine and 3rd - 4th is usually fine but again in my opinion is not a nice clean, confident, secure shift from gear-to-gear.

My Muncie M-21 transmission is about a month out from a complete check, inspect, rebuild. Initial assessment by E. Harnett is that the transmission is in very good shape. Gears looked good, nothing broken or floating around. Tranny will come back to me with a new OEM-style pilot bushing.

I would like to take this opportunity to replace the clutch and get this car to finally shift nice, clean and secure. I'm looking for sourcing help. I would like to keep the car NCRS correct. This is not a restomod, or high performance set up so I'm not interested in anything exotic from Jegs or Summit. I would like to stick with the Muncie shifter to keep the car period correct and somewhat original. My tranny rebuilder mentioned LUK and Trans Star but I am not familiar with these.

Thanks in advance for your ideas and sourcing suggestions. At a minimum I think I need a new clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing, clutch fork? Would be nice to buy a completely matched setup rather than parts from different vendors and suppliers.

Kevin

 

I'm sure you've seen this thread: Some Facts and Numbers on Inadequate Clutch Pedal Travel Range

 

Wow, Lars is one smart guy. What a great information source based on facts and data. I'm rethinking my opinion on the McLeod RST set up for this 1969 L-46 350/350 Coupe. I had a McLeod clutch in a 1969 Z-28 Camaro from 1976-1987 and it was a GREAT clutch. NO issues with that clutch at all. Car shifted perfectly. It was set up to a BW ST-10 tranny back then. Great clutch, great tranny, great car. Wicked fast!

Thank you for the link. Great info.

 

I researched the hell out of the Forum back in 2019 when I needed to replace my clutch. I always peruse the C2 side of the Forum seeing as how similar they are suspension and drive train wise to our C3's. I am soooo glad I found that thread regarding clutches. Needless to say I did indeed use a McLeod clutch.

 

I took a look under the car and there is a LUK clutch kit in the car now, PN 9992-01 on the pressure plate. Throw out bearing is PN FC686541 and is made in USA. Clutch fork, pivot arm, and z-bar arm all look to be OEM. Definately reconsidering going with a McLeod RST clutch kit. More research to do and thanks for the ideas and suggestions regarding the C2 side of the forum too.

Kevin