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Topic: New clutch

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


New clutch

Posted: 10/11/11 5:44am Message 1 of 15
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Germansville, PA - USA
Joined: 1/28/2010
Posts: 863
Vette(s): 1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.

Did the old fashioned research and found a few things but I need some clarification on a few points. Here's the issue: installed a new McCleod clutch kit and when testing found that it made a rumblimg sound when depressing clutch pedal and would not even come close to working, could not get in any gear with out grinding gears bad. Have adjustment rod adusted all the way out as far as possible and still no go. Read where Joel says there are 2 sizes of T/O bearings. Joel, do you have numbers for these bearings and could this be the problem? The old clutch had to be adjusted all the way out to the end of the rod also to get the freeplay in pedal and the T/O bearings new and old are the same. Also read that the fork and pivot ball should be replaced too. I did not do this. Another possible cause? Don't have a clue about the rumble, maybe because of being new??? My son-in-law did this part of the job for me and he has done many clutches, says he installed the T/O correctly  BTW the application for for this clutch #MCL-75121 from Summit says it fits Corvette from 1969 to 1980. HELP! I need to get this done for Friday to to Ocean City, MD for cruise on the boardwalk!!!Exclamation




   

DanT

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Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/11/11 10:46am Message 2 of 15
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Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed
Sorry I don't have any info to contribute. Aftermarket clutches on any make and model car always allow the opportunity for this adventure. Hard to imagine it being anything else but the T/O bearing. Please keep us informed on how this plays out Dan. Very educational. Good luck.


Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/11/11 12:47pm Message 3 of 15
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Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2471
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
 This may be an insult, but not intended to be one. Try turning the TOB over. It can be inserted up side down. MANY years ago I did it myself. It may also be possible the clutch disk is inserted up side down as well. Hope ya don't need new parts.


Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/11/11 8:05pm Message 4 of 15
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I do NOT have any part numbers, sorry. I do know there are two different height tob assemblies, as well as two different height pivot balls for the fork. Assuming you did not change the pivot, or the fork, I would be looking at the tob...perhaps it is not compatible with the type of pressure plate you used. If you bought a clutch kit that came with the tob, it should all work together.
Couple of questions:
Is the "new" clutch disc the exact same diameter as the old one?
Is the pressure plate the same type, as in diaphragm style, or the three fingered "Borg & Beck/Long" style?
Is your installer absolutely certain the disc was not installed backwards?
Was the pilot bushing/bearing replaced?



Joel Adams
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Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/12/11 10:53am Message 5 of 15
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp
Just did mine a while back, and I agree with everything that is suggested. I do remember not being sure which way the TOB was suppose to go.  Also like Joel say's, very important that the pilot busing fits snug. Never hurts to knock it out and replace while your in there. I don't think that would have anything to do with gear grinding, but in mine it definitely caused rumble and vibration. As far as fork and ball. Mine were shot but what it caused was very stiff and crunchy when I depressed the pedal.
I agree that is sounds like a TOB issue.



Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/13/11 12:34pm Message 6 of 15
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Germansville, PA - USA
Joined: 1/28/2010
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Vette(s): 1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.
Okay, just got back.....answers to questions are: Changed from 3 fingered Borg & Beck to diaphaghm style clutch plate. Bought this as a kit...came with plate, disc and T/O/B.
I did replace the pilot bushing. It is the same 11 inch as was taken out. I have to take my son-in-laws word for it to be installed correctly, I was not here while it was being installed. I know there was some problem when trying to install T/O/B on the fork without removing bellhousing and the the bellhousing was finally removed to install. Old T/O/B came out easily with bell on but could not get new one on without removing bell. Spring retainer clip on fork got a little bent but was straightened prior to installing T/O/B. That's all we know at this point, have not removed anything to check further.



   

DanT

Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/13/11 1:35pm Message 7 of 15
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
There is a difference in the height of the two different pressure plate fingers, when installed. This may be the problem, assuming everything is correctly installed, and nothing is damaged. You may need to go to a wee bit longer TOB, or the fork may need to be changed. Lemmie do some research, and I'll git back with this later.


Joel Adams
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Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/13/11 1:50pm Message 8 of 15
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Germansville, PA - USA
Joined: 1/28/2010
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Vette(s): 1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.
I did check with the local NAPA store and they only list 1 TOB for that application..


   

DanT

Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/17/11 8:53am Message 9 of 15
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Germansville, PA - USA
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Vette(s): 1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.
Well, just got back from Ocean City MD Corvette Weekend, a great time I might add. Called Summit and they tell me this the correct clutch kit for my car. They do have a longer TOB that is at 1.885 in. compared to 1.225 which is the "short" TOB. They also have an adjustable TOB that starts at 1.325 in. and can be adjusted up to 1.525 or 1.725 in. He also made another point as to a possible cause. He said it's possible depending on how many and how much the flywheel had been cut, that it could also be the cause of the problem in addition to the possibility that the fork had been changed and is not the same as stock.  I did have it cut this time which is a requirement for the clutch warranty, but have no idea how many times it might have been cut in the past. So that's where I stand at this point on this problem. I'm guessing maybe the adjustable TOB might be the way to go, but not too convinced on the reliability of an adjustabvle TOB...any thoughts Question


   

DanT

Re: New clutch

Posted: 10/17/11 9:51am Message 10 of 15
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Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2471
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
I DO NOT think I would use an adjustable one. I would get parts that fit/work well with a fixed one.


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