Clutch problem
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 1
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Clutch problem
I am new .member, having bought a used 1973 convertible recently.. It has a good 350 built to LT1 specs, very energetic, and a doug nash 5 speed manual. I went to drive it last month, started up just fine, but it would not go into gear. The clutch felt normal, like it was pressing on the pressure plate fingers . But would not go out of neutral. MY diagnosis is that the clutch disk is stuck or rusted to the flywheel, or stuck/rusted to the trans shaft splines in the engaged position. I can roll the car in the garage if its in neutral. With the engine off, shifter in say 4th gear, and the clutch fully depressed by my wife, I cannot roll the car. I tried rocking it back and forth, engine off, clutch depressed to free the disk, but no dice. I may not be rocking it hard enough, as I am fairly weak due to chemo and being 74 years old and under weight.
So is my diagnosis sound right and am I on the right track? Any other ideas? Next time son in law comes here, he and I can try rocking it loose, if that is the 'easy' way to fix it. Am I missing something here?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
So is my diagnosis sound right and am I on the right track? Any other ideas? Next time son in law comes here, he and I can try rocking it loose, if that is the 'easy' way to fix it. Am I missing something here?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Could very well just be a stuck disc if the car had sat a long time.
roll car out onto street. Get it pointed down the road. Put it first gear with clutch pedal held to the floor. Start the engine And drive the car with the clutch pedal held to the floor. Keep going in first occasionally giving the throttle a stab. Usually they break loose pretty quickly. Sometimes you'll go a mile. Once it breaks loose. Shift gears as normal. Slip the clutch a little on take off on purpose to clean it up.
roll car out onto street. Get it pointed down the road. Put it first gear with clutch pedal held to the floor. Start the engine And drive the car with the clutch pedal held to the floor. Keep going in first occasionally giving the throttle a stab. Usually they break loose pretty quickly. Sometimes you'll go a mile. Once it breaks loose. Shift gears as normal. Slip the clutch a little on take off on purpose to clean it up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 957
From: Wauconda IL
I am new .member, having bought a used 1973 convertible recently.. It has a good 350 built to LT1 specs, very energetic, and a doug nash 5 speed manual. I went to drive it last month, started up just fine, but it would not go into gear. The clutch felt normal, like it was pressing on the pressure plate fingers . But would not go out of neutral. MY diagnosis is that the clutch disk is stuck or rusted to the flywheel, or stuck/rusted to the trans shaft splines in the engaged position. I can roll the car in the garage if its in neutral. With the engine off, shifter in say 4th gear, and the clutch fully depressed by my wife, I cannot roll the car. I tried rocking it back and forth, engine off, clutch depressed to free the disk, but no dice. I may not be rocking it hard enough, as I am fairly weak due to chemo and being 74 years old and under weight.
So is my diagnosis sound right and am I on the right track? Any other ideas? Next time son in law comes here, he and I can try rocking it loose, if that is the 'easy' way to fix it. Am I missing something here?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
So is my diagnosis sound right and am I on the right track? Any other ideas? Next time son in law comes here, he and I can try rocking it loose, if that is the 'easy' way to fix it. Am I missing something here?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
