CLUTCH INSTALL 1958

[thunder]

I would like know if anyone knows where i can buy a good quality clutch kit
for my 1958 vette.the guy i bought it from put a muncie trans in it.i want to leave that trans in the car.i will also need the flywheel and scattershield.
former owner drag raced the car waisting the bellhsg and flywheel.
by the way i am running a early 350 motor with front engine mounts.

 

[critchie]

You buy:

the pressure plate to fit the flywheel;
the disc to fit the transmission;
the flywheel to fit the bell housing; and,
the bell housing to fit the car.

Get a 1958 Corvette bell housing and flywheel. Then get a clutch set for a 1964 and up Corvette - the one for the Muncie transmission. Luk makes very reasonably priced sets. Buy it locally, and then you can take it back if it doesn't fit. The clutch set you want is very common.

 

[thunder]

You buy:

the pressure plate to fit the flywheel;
the disc to fit the transmission;
the flywheel to fit the bell housing; and,
the bell housing to fit the car.

Get a 1958 Corvette bell housing and flywheel. Then get a clutch set for a 1964 and up Corvette - the one for the Muncie transmission. Luk makes very reasonably priced sets. Buy it locally, and then you can take it back if it doesn't fit. The clutch set you want is very common.

thanks for the info!luk is better than hayes in your opinion?
where would be a good source for the bell hsg.and flywheel?

 

[JohnZ]

Paragon has the refurbished flywheel (casting #3729004) and the LuK RepSet clutch kit, and they might have the correct bellhousing too (casting #3733365, '56-'59, cast iron, or #3779553 will work too - aluminum, used in '61-'62). Those are the only bellhousings that have the boss and two tapped holes on the driver's side to attach the bracket for the inboard side pivot stud for the clutch cross shaft.

 

[thunder]

Paragon has the refurbished flywheel (casting #3729004) and the LuK RepSet clutch kit, and they might have the correct bellhousing too (casting #3733365, '56-'59, cast iron, or #3779553 will work too - aluminum, used in '61-'62). Those are the only bellhousings that have the boss and two tapped holes on the driver's side to attach the bracket for the inboard side pivot stud for the clutch cross shaft.

i will contact them next week john.thank you for the indepth information.
i am buying the beer next time!

 

[2X4's 60]

Go to www.dialaclutch.com They have the complete Luk clutch set up for less than $140 with free shipping.

 

[thunder]

Go to www.dialaclutch.com They have the complete Luk clutch set up for less than $140 with free shipping.[/quote

question?if i am using a 350 engine do i stil order the clutch set/flywheel for the 283?probadly the same unit for all smallblocks.i do not think it would matter other than the bell housing?

 

[2X4's 60]

Just give them a call and they'll set you up with the correct stuff.

 

[critchie]

I bought a Luk RepSet for my '62 from dialaclutch. Great price. Quick shipping. The Luk RepSet is a known commodity. If I looked around, I may have been able to buy the Luk locally. I was able to get quotes locally for a clutch to fit my car, but they were not from manufacturers I recognized.

With an engine that may have mix and match parts, you need to determine the size of the pressure plate. It's either 10 1/2" or 11". (10 1/2" is really 10.4", but that's another story.) That size is what the flywheel is drilled for. You can take out the old pressure plate and measure it. Or, if you know the flywheel hasn't been changed, order the pressure plate for the engine.

The disc will be the same size, but you need to determine the number of splines. That's determined by the transmission you have in there.

The C1 took a 10 1/2" clutch with a disc for a T10. The disc for a Muncie was different, but many of them were 10 1/2". Many (most?) 350s had flywheels that took 10 1/2" clutches. So there's a very good chance that you can buy a clutch that'll fit. Call dialaclutch and tell them what engine and transmission you have.

The 350 in my '62 came from a low HP mid-70s Camaro. That engine came with the exact same flywheel as a 1962 Corvette. I love it when a plan comes together.

 

[thunder]

I bought a Luk RepSet for my '62 from dialaclutch. Great price. Quick shipping. The Luk RepSet is a known commodity. If I looked around, I may have been able to buy the Luk locally. I was able to get quotes locally for a clutch to fit my car, but they were not from manufacturers I recognized.

With an engine that may have mix and match parts, you need to determine the size of the pressure plate. It's either 10 1/2" or 11". (10 1/2" is really 10.4", but that's another story.) That size is what the flywheel is drilled for. You can take out the old pressure plate and measure it. Or, if you know the flywheel hasn't been changed, order the pressure plate for the engine.

The disc will be the same size, but you need to determine the number of splines. That's determined by the transmission you have in there.

The C1 took a 10 1/2" clutch with a disc for a T10. The disc for a Muncie was different, but many of them were 10 1/2". Many (most?) 350s had flywheels that took 10 1/2" clutches. So there's a very good chance that you can buy a clutch that'll fit. Call dialaclutch and tell them what engine and transmission you have.

The 350 in my '62 came from a low HP mid-70s Camaro. That engine came with the exact same flywheel as a 1962 Corvette. I love it when a plan comes together.

from 62 to the mid seventies.that make it simple!the flywheel is waisted
but i will measure it as far as the bell hsg. goes i will take john z's advice and call paragon for a quote.

 

[JohnZ]

Flywheel/clutch usage was all over the map across car lines over the years, and the passenger cars were different than Corvettes in most years.

You MUST have a 14"-diameter 168-tooth flywheel with a C1 bellhousing; there isn't a starter on earth that will work on a C1 bellhousing with a 12-3/4" 153-tooth flywheel (the C1 starter bolts to the front surface of the bellhousing, not to the bottom of the engine block). The C1 (3729004) flywheel is drilled for a 10.5" clutch; just make sure you get the disc that matches the spline count on your tranny input shaft.

 

[thunder]

Flywheel/clutch usage was all over the map across car lines over the years, and the passenger cars were different than Corvettes in most years.

You MUST have a 14"-diameter 168-tooth flywheel with a C1 bellhousing; there isn't a starter on earth that will work on a C1 bellhousing with a 12-3/4" 153-tooth flywheel (the C1 starter bolts to the front surface of the bellhousing, not to the bottom of the engine block). The C1 (3729004) flywheel is drilled for a 10.5" clutch; just make sure you get the disc that matches the spline count on your tranny input shaft.

thanks john you are a wealth of knowledge.simply amazing!!

 

[thunder]

Paragon has the refurbished flywheel (casting #3729004) and the LuK RepSet clutch kit, and they might have the correct bellhousing too (casting #3733365, '56-'59, cast iron, or #3779553 will work too - aluminum, used in '61-'62). Those are the only bellhousings that have the boss and two tapped holes on the driver's side to attach the bracket for the inboard side pivot stud for the clutch cross shaft.

one last question:

if i am using the muncie trans that came with the car.why do i need a 1958 bell hsg or the 61-62?is it do to the 58 linkage?
a friend gave me a bellhsg.cast#3733373 for 1956 truck i think will
that work with the 4 speed muncie in my vette?

 

[critchie]

Yes, it's the clutch linkage. One end of the "Z" bar attaches to the ball on the frame. The other end goes to a bracket that bolts onto the bell housing. The bell housing you use needs to have the bolt holes to attach that bracket. Go to Corvette Central and look at the diagram.

 

[thunder]

Yes, it's the clutch linkage. One end of the "Z" bar attaches to the ball on the frame. The other end goes to a bracket that bolts onto the bell housing. The bell housing you use needs to have the bolt holes to attach that bracket. Go to Corvette Central and look at the diagram.

thanks!
what about bellhsg.cast#3733373 i have at my hse its looks like it will work?

 

[JohnZ]

I don't have any info on the 3733373 bellhousing (must be a passenger car or truck part), other than that casting number was released in 1956. Got any photos?

 

[thunder]

I don't have any info on the 3733373 bellhousing (must be a passenger car or truck part), other than that casting number was released in 1956. Got any photos?

john tried the pics.but i got a error said they exceeded 83mb?

 

[JohnZ]

john tried the pics.but i got a error said they exceeded 83mb?

Send them to me at Snake488@aol.com

 

[thunder]

Paragon has the refurbished flywheel (casting #3729004) and the LuK RepSet clutch kit, and they might have the correct bellhousing too (casting #3733365, '56-'59, cast iron, or #3779553 will work too - aluminum, used in '61-'62). Those are the only bellhousings that have the boss and two tapped holes on the driver's side to attach the bracket for the inboard side pivot stud for the clutch cross shaft.

john found one! casting number 3733365 on ebay $130.00 but no fork
do you think that the fork for the 1956 truck bellhousing i have will work in it?

 

[JohnZ]

john found one! casting number 3733365 on ebay $130.00 but no fork
do you think that the fork for the 1956 truck bellhousing i have will work in it?

No, it won't. Also, make sure it's counterbore-machined for the outside-installed clutch fork ball stud with 13/16"-16 threads and a round head with a female hex drive (see photo below); that same casting number was also machined for a smaller 7/16" thread inside-installed ball stud for passenger cars and trucks. The photos you sent me of the old iron bellhousing show the outside-installed ball stud - that's what you want to see on a 3733365 bellhousing for use on a Corvette. Paragon has the clutch fork you need, and the ball stud.