I got looking at my clutch linkage today and couldnt believe the amount of play in the Z bar.
Where the clutch fork pushrod goes into it was very sloppy,but the other end,where the rod from the clutch pedal goes into it was so bad that I was amazed !!
I'll be going to my favorite machine shop to see about getting some bushings made.
I wonder if this might account for the hard shifting after it's been driven for a while ??
I also need to rig up a better way to mount the return spring on the clutch fork as it has just been a poor job right from when I bought the car.
I've read,probably on here,about using a hose clamp on the header tube to secure the end of the spring,as there isnt really any place to put it.
First I need to find some springs and then figure out what I'm going to.
Guy
I took a few pictures so you can see the amount of play in my Z Bar.
The pictures on the top are the way they should be,the pictures below show how much play is there.
I took it to Jim George at my favorite machine shop.
As soon as he looked at it he said something like this might work if it were metal,and he found a plastic heim joint.I said that I have some of those at home as that is what I use for my sway bar end links.I went home and got one and went back to Jim's.It is a fine thread where the original pushrod is coarse thread,so he is going to make a whole new pushrod,complete with a ball bearing welded on the clutch fork end.
The clutch pedal rod he will tighten up with a new bushing and shims if needed.
He is pretty busy at the moment,so he might not have it ready until next week,but it's not like I am going very far anyhow
Hopefully this will fix my hard shifting problem.
Guy
Wow Guy glad you found the reason for your Hard Shifting
It has been many years ( early 80s ) since I had my 65 GTO with this same problem
it would not go into Gear or would Lock up in 2nd or ?? and after the 2nd Clutch failed/burnt up
I fixed it by Replacing the Manual Trans with a TH400, best thing for the Race Track for consistent Runs
Greg,that same thought has crossed my mind a time or two.
But,part of the reason I bought the Monte was because of the five speed :thumbsup:
I've got my fingers crossed that this fixes my problem.
Guy
Years ago I used to have the worn side of the holes welded in and then I would take them to work and re-machined them open. When I reassembled them I put some grease in the hole and on the end that went into them.
I had to do that on my 78 as well. I would then put washers where the rod goes through to make sure that the pieces were held tight with the clips. It took a little force to get the clips in.
Thanks Ray.
Jim at the machine shop mentioned doing something like that too,although he would probably make some shims to fit and maybe a bushing as well.
He is pretty darn good at what he does,so I'm pretty sure that it will be nice and tight when he's done :thumbsup:
Guy
Agreed. The reproduction clutch linkage parts for a 67 are horrendous and finding good used parts is nearly impossible. I lucked out in finding a good first pattern 67 z-bar. Since these first pattered were problematic when new, I opted for a full heim joint linkage set up, both upper and lower.
Back in the day, I routinely welded egg shape linage holes and grooved rods. Night and day improvement.
Gene,when you say "wonky",was hard shifting one of the problems that you encountered ??
And,I am hoping to see a big difference also.These little things sure can take the fun out of having an old car :frown2:
Guy
I’ve used these harded bushings on the Muncie with Hurst Comp shifter. Lubed with Copper anti seize. Installed on my Chevelle and daughters Vette. Shifts extremely nicely. Also had to fix some egged holes.
Should be a lot smoother now. It's hard to tell but the one thing I would check is where the joint is make sure there is enough clearance between the joint and z-bar so it doesn't rub in that area when mounted together in the car.
Well I got it all together and went for a test drive.
The Heim joint had to be moved to the other side of the Z Bar as it stuck out too far and wouldnt line up with the clutch fork properly.There was a small boss sticking up below the proper hole that had to be ground off for clearance,so I had to take the Z Bar off to do that.
To secure the new clutch return spring I used a trick that I read about here that someone had done.I put a hose clamp around a header tube after drilling a small hole in it.Carquest supplied a Dorman universal spring that I stretched to fit and put the long end through the hose clamp.The hole for it was on the top of the clutch fork and I didnt like that.So I drilled a new hole in the bottom of the fork and that seems to work pretty good and lines up decent.
So my short drive was to the gas station and home.
But it seems to be shifting much better than before,although a slight clutch adjustment may be in order.
Guy
I've been out for a couple of short drives and the Monte shifts perfectly so far.
The wife and I are going for a 5-6 hour drive on Monday and that will be a real good test.
I did go to see Jim at the machine shop to let him know that it was working good.He had a look and said that if the bushing where the clutch pedal pushrod goes into the Z Bar wears,that there is enough room that he could put another heim joint there.
One thing that I didnt like was the way the clutch pedal just sort of "flops" around and sits way too high.
I put another spring from the pedal to the firewall to keep it where it should be and this seems to be working OK too.
I will update after our drive on Monday :thumbsup:
Guy
Well we went for a good long drive today,all together about 5 hours.
For the most part of the trip it shifted perfectly :thumbsup:
But,as we were almost home,as I slowed down for construction and downshifted,the clutch pedal went right to the floor.
I was able to drive home,only had to stop a couple of times and put it in first gear and used the starter to get it going.
Had a look when I got home and turns out that the clutch pushrod bracket broke where it was welded to the Z Bar.
My buddy Mark is going to help fix it up tomorrow.
All in all,it was a good drive !!
Guy
Thanks !!
You got that right about the darn thing testing me LOL
But,when you stop to consider that it is probably 40 years old, breakage eventually happens.
Guy
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