clutch recommendation

[like2drive]

Just got the Muncie installed on July 2 after removing old automatic.
This is being done "on the side" and "when they have time " at a popular transmission shop in our area. It probably took about 6 hours over a 5 day period. Driving me nuts!
The Guru mechanic-friend of mine that owns the place, found he couldn't adjust the clutch out in the closing hours for the Fourth vacation. Car is still there. He says I have the wrong throwout bearing (I bought all the parts), and that I need a longer one. Trying to save the day, I ran to the Clutch distributor to get the longer T. O Bearing. The "specialist" there said I probably hadd the wrong pressure plate...a flatter plate if we were needing a longer T. O. Bearing. Also, he agreed that the longer brg could solve the problem.
However, he also sold me a pressure plate w/ a more pointed, angled fingers which would cause more pressure he said I needed in a Vette. This plate would use the shorter throwout bearing.
I returned to the Guru at the Trans. shop just as they were packing it up to close for the vacation. Both solutions are at the shop when they return.
I'm being charged by the hour. It'll probably be two hours to pull the trans and old clutch out and install the new. Should I use the better pressure plate that will require this extra time, or just switch to the longer T O Bearing? (less time). I'm leaning towards going back to scratch with the "better" pressure plate. What would you do? anyone ran across this before? thanks in advance. jim

 

[JohnZ]

Corvettes use the "bent-finger" pressure plate and the "short" (1-1/4") throwout bearing; passenger cars and trucks use the "flat-finger" pressure plate and the "long" (1-3/4") throwout bearing. The Corvette clutch fork is also Corvette-unique; if any of the parts are mis-matched, you won't be able to adjust the clutch with the stock linkage.

 

[glen242]

Corvettes use the "bent-finger" pressure plate and the "short" (1-1/4") throwout bearing; passenger cars and trucks use the "flat-finger" pressure plate and the "long" (1-3/4") throwout bearing. The Corvette clutch fork is also Corvette-unique; if any of the parts are mis-matched, you won't be able to adjust the clutch with the stock linkage.

Whose clutch? Why not go with what they recommend?

 

[waterboy1976]

Ive got a Ram Powergrip in mine...no probs here.....

 

[like2drive]

Thanks for the replies, especially JohnZ 's information. The initial problem is the salvage yard I bought the bellhousing from, and all the necessary parts to switch to a 4 speed, told me it was out of a 1980 vett which should have been no problem to install in my '81. After things started going wrong, I looked closer and found that what I bought is of unknown heritage, but it is NOT out of a VETTe. Going back to square one.

got the correct bellhousing from a local friend (#3899621), now have the correct pressure plate, throwout brg,disc. Im currently searching for a clutch fork and perhaps a flywheel....mine may be ok but who knows. Per JohnZ's correct advice, the clutch fork is corvette specific. (and I believe the ball stud is too) I might take a chance (again) on the flywheel.:eyerole
thanks again, jim

 

[waterboy1976]

WELL....USUALLY.....and I do mean USUALLY....having the correct parts will help........Thats great to hear you figured it out...

 

[black_81_vette]

HI not to hijack this thread but what is the proper size of the clutch in a 81? is it the 11 inch job or the 10.4?

 

[JohnZ]

'73-'81 small-blocks all used a 14" 168-tooth flywheel and an 11" clutch.

 

[ft laud mike]

I recently had my clutch replaced, the old one was ok, but i figured...what the hell, if im going to blow money it might as well be on the vette. Put in a centerforce II clutch. The pedal pressure is quite a bit more than what it had before and it makes a world of difference in the "butt seat" power feel. I dont know what it had but i think it was slipping significantly for me to feel such a big difference.