Big problem with the Vette...the clutch?

[Stallion]

Okay, here's the story...

Tonight I took the Vette out and all is going well. All of a sudden, I want to down-shift into 3rd gear (from 4th gear), and I try to push the clutch pedal down and it is extreme pressure to get it down (and I don't really think I actually did get it down to disengage). So, I just rolled over to the side of the street. Called dad and we pushed her over to the parking lot of the Fire Dept. That's where she is now. That's where she will be until I 1) get it home or 2) fix it.

Here is a little more to maybe help you help me figure this out. I couldn't get the clutch down, though the pedal did seem to be actually going all the way down. But I defefinitely couldn't get in gear or change gear. It seemed like everything was locked up. We just put it in neutral and pushed it.

So what could this be? The clutch? The pressure plate? What is it? Please help me as soon as possible. I need to get going on this tomorrow or sooner.

I had looked in the service manual on getting the clutch out and the first step is to support the engine and remove the transmission. I don't think I can do this. I don't have the right knowledge/space/tools to do this I don't think.

What now? Please help me...

Stallion

 

[ChuckG]

First place I'd look would be in the clutch linkage, the Z bar, the fork and rods, etc. See if something's come loose, something's gotten jammed into the linkage, etc. I'd look "externally" before I'd think about an "internal" problem. Chuck

 

[KenSny]

Yes I agree, Sounds like something came loose on the linkage. If the tranny was working and sounding fine before, then it's something external.

 

[Stallion]

Okay, I will check this first. If the problem is internal, you don't think it's the transmission though do you? If internal, I was hoping it would just be the clutch.

 

[Stallion]

I'm going to go over to the Vette and see about the linkage. If it's not the linkage, then what do you suggest I do? I don't really know how practical it is for me to change the clutch myself. I have tight space and limited tools and limited knowledge. What do you think?

 

[GTR1999]

Like the other guys said you have a straight mechanical linkage in your car. You push the pedal-pushed the rod going the "Z" bar,this end is threaded for adjustment on the pedal height BTW. The Z Bar engages the rod to the throwout arm in the bellhousing. You might be able to adjust the clutch but don;t count too much on it. If the linkage was broken you would have no pedal effort at all. How many miles do you have on it? Did it grind any gears before this happened,grind into reverse?

TO remove the clutch you have to remove the tranny or engine. Much easier to remove the tranny unless you were going to do some major engine work.
Depending on the engine you should have a BW ST-10 (L-82) or I believe a Saginaw(base). Hopefully it's not a Saginaw(not a good tranny). With the tranny out remove the bellhousing from the engine,you must support the engine with a hoist or sling because it will only be supported by the motor mounts-which if original may be bad!

You will need a new clutch Pressure plate and bearing. Also a new input bearing would be good and resurface the flywheel. That's the way I do them a lot of shops don't do the pilot bearing or resurfacing(too much time & money for them,yet you get charged full price!) ok, enough rambling!

If you have room, jack stands, jack, clutch aligning tool,basic tools and take your time, you can probably do it. The clutch and material run about $300 depending on which one you buy. The cost for labor may be between $40-$85 hr. A good guy with a lift will knock this out in a few hours.

Sounds like you're a young guy, maybe new to vettes. Don't get too upset about this you'll have more repairs in the future. Learn as much as you can then you'll be able to do more in the future. They aren't as mysterious as a lot of people make them out to be.

Good luck

 

[Rain]

Glad ya got a few replies this morning. Hope ya got some rest last night and that it was an easy/obvious fix in the light of day -
Let us know what you've done and figured out.

Rain

 

[Stallion]

I think I'm a little over my head. I'm going to go to a mechanic and ask him if he will let me watch and learn while he does it. That way it gets done properly and I learn at the same time. Cross your fingers, I'm going to leave now.