Clutch Line Melted!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
Clutch Line Melted!
Well, I just took my car out for some cruising and as I was coming to a stop sign I put her in neutral and the clutch pedal went 'thump' to the floor... as dead as a doornail.
You could see where the line looks like it's touching the manifold and the heat wrap is eaten thru. Clutch fluid is all gone dripping on the ground. At least I was only a mile from home and made it back in 1st gear...Anyone know how much a line is going to be from the dealer...?
Le Mans Master<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/5k-6k.gif" border="0">
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Well, I just took my car out for some cruising and as I was coming to a stop sign I put her in neutral and the clutch pedal went 'thump' to the floor... as dead as a doornail.
You could see where the line looks like it's touching the manifold and the heat wrap is eaten thru. Clutch fluid is all gone dripping on the ground. At least I was only a mile from home and made it back in 1st gear...Anyone know how much a line is going to be from the dealer...?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
When the C6 first came out a shop installed headers on a members car. The clutch line melted and started a fire. Their was a lot of fire damage and the C6 was sent to the Chev dealer for repair.
I see you have headers so your lucky it only leaked.
I see you have headers so your lucky it only leaked.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
Your right, the line can't be more and a hundred and change, but it's gonna be a beotch to replace it... 
Originally Posted by VET4LES
I see you have headers so your lucky it only leaked...
Luckily no fire... 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
I just emailed Gene Culley @ GM Parts House to see if he has a new line in stock. We will try and move the new one as far away from the manifold as possible before we load it up with heat wrap, and maybe try and make a mini heat sheild for the line...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
There isn't much extra length on the stock line. Dynatech headers come with a bracket to pull the clutch line to the fenderwell/firewall to allow some space and air movement around the line.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
I used to have Dynatch headers... I wonder if the bracket is still on there...? Either way, I need to get this done. The car can't be down for more than the next week. I'm waiting for Gene to get back to me on the part...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
If the stock part isn't long enough you might try a local air/hydraulics shop for a custom length line.
I don't envy you bleeding the new assembly, the stock setup for bleeding is really awkward and time consuming.
I don't envy you bleeding the new assembly, the stock setup for bleeding is really awkward and time consuming.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Turbocharged in NC
I thought you have the APS Tom. If you do, then a new stock line won't work, you'll need the APS section that goes in when the turbos are installed. The APS section is rubber with a steel braid cover, which is then covered up by an orange heat shield of sorts.
Here is a pic from their web site.
Here is a pic from their web site.
Last edited by wewing; Sep 8, 2007 at 12:13 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
I thought you have the APS Tom. If you do, then a new stock line won't work, you'll need the APS section that goes in when the turbos are installed. The APS section is rubber with a steel braid cover, which is then covered up by an orange heat shield of sorts.
Here is a pic from their web site.
Here is a pic from their web site.
Are you effing kidding me?!
If I need that part from APS, it's going to take forever to get... Do I have to drop the turbo/manifold to swap it in...?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Turbocharged in NC
Yeah, I'm afraid so. You can probably get one from Geoff at Next Level. Just a guess. If not, then you'll have to order it from APS direct. As far as dropping the turbo out, its a pain, but thats what it takes.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
BTW- the APS orange line is wrapped in another layer of metalic heat wrap... this may have been the catalyst... we'll see once it's all out...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 0
From: Orange, CT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
I suppose if the car is in neutral and you get someone to push the car along at 10 or 20 mph (or start rolling down a hill, etc), perhaps you can just shove it into 1st or 2nd and you'll be off and running....? Not sure how else you'd do it. Must have been a b*tch when you had to come to a near stop.
Several times I've actually accidentally attempted to shift into 1st gear from a stop WITHOUT pressing down on the clutch pedal... the shifter would NOT go into first... at all. I'm glad this was the case or I would have lurched forward an stalled, not so good for the tranny either... again, it puzzles me how you got the car into gear and drove off without a functioning clutch hydraulic system. My guess is that you had to get the car rolling first.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
Just curious, if the car was in neutral and the clutch system completely failed at that point, how the heck did you get the car into 1st gear and drive off? I've heard of other members with total clutch failure and still being able to drive home somehow... always wondered about this. I'd really like to know so that the day my slave cylinder fails, I'll be able to drive home.
I suppose if the car is in neutral and you get someone to push the car along at 10 or 20 mph (or start rolling down a hill, etc), perhaps you can just shove it into 1st or 2nd and you'll be off and running....? Not sure how else you'd do it. Must have been a b*tch when you had to come to a near stop.
Several times I've actually accidentally attempted to shift into 1st gear from a stop WITHOUT pressing down on the clutch pedal... the shifter would NOT go into first... at all. I'm glad this was the case or I would have lurched forward an stalled, not so good for the tranny either... again, it puzzles me how you got the car into gear and drove off without a functioning clutch hydraulic system. My guess is that you had to get the car rolling first.
I suppose if the car is in neutral and you get someone to push the car along at 10 or 20 mph (or start rolling down a hill, etc), perhaps you can just shove it into 1st or 2nd and you'll be off and running....? Not sure how else you'd do it. Must have been a b*tch when you had to come to a near stop.
Several times I've actually accidentally attempted to shift into 1st gear from a stop WITHOUT pressing down on the clutch pedal... the shifter would NOT go into first... at all. I'm glad this was the case or I would have lurched forward an stalled, not so good for the tranny either... again, it puzzles me how you got the car into gear and drove off without a functioning clutch hydraulic system. My guess is that you had to get the car rolling first.
I can only assume you can either shove it in 1st or start it in first and start jerking down the street for a few feet
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 1
From: Turbocharged in NC
I hope the shop who installed the kit can help you out. I was down for a while with mine last Spring for a turbo replacement so I know how bad it can be to get parts. I think Rick Voss, and FastBlackTA, had some clutch line problems with theirs. You might PM them and see what they had to do. The silver heat tape wasn't part of the install instructions. I wouldn't think that would cause the problem, but I don't have it, and I followed the instructions as best I could. Mine looks like the orange stuff in the pic.