My 409/'55 Chevy Project

[Monk]

Well I got my clutch pedal upgrade this week.

I purchased it from Danchuk........turns out it was Earle Williams
set up anyway.
They had a learning curve to go through......sending me the right
parts.
Really didn't need the spring but the sent it.

Here's what I got.......I thought I was going to have to remove the whole
peddle assembly to install.
Turns out not.....this should be pretty simple.
Will change it out when we pull tranny and install new clutch
and pressure plate this winter.

I like the splined end on the clutch shaft and the heim joints on the push rod.

Had 'em all powder coated yesterday.

[SpiderGearsMan]

nice , you aren't running a hydraulic ?

[squirrel]

Real men have mechanical clutch linkage.

[SpiderGearsMan]

haha , I swore off them years ago

[Monk]

Tell ya the truth......didn't even think about
a hydraulic clutch when we were building the car.

Always had mechanical.

[Huskinhano]

Thom, you'll like the rod ends on the linkage. I made my own when I swapped in a 4 speed on my 66 Mustang. I'm also sealed bearings on the pedal hanger too. The bearings are for lawn tractors. I showed the stock linkage for comparison. I ditched the heavy factory clutch pedal spring like yours and used a much lighter one source from Autozone just to take up any free play. A lot of Mustang guys totally do away with that spring when using a diaphragm plate like I am. My set up works nice and smooth, no regrets.








As squirrel said, real men use mechanical linkage.

[SuperBuickGuy]

As squirrel said, cave men use mechanical linkage.

there, fixed it for you

[mike343sharpstick]

Using a good old mechanical linkage on the Javelin too. I replaced the link from the z-bar to the clutch fork with a rod-end. I may do the main shaft this winter. I have no issue at all with the old mechanical setup, pressure is very reasonable with the 500 HP pressure plate Hanlon motorsports recommended.

Based on my experience I've been wondering why everybody is going through the hassle of a hydraulic clutch, maybe it's just a fashion statement that all the hip folks are doing;)?

[SpiderGearsMan]

big tube headers and engine swaps and you find the mechanical linkage gets in the way

[Monk]

Thom, you'll like the rod ends on the linkage. I made my own when I swapped in a 4 speed on my 66 Mustang. I'm also sealed bearings on the pedal hanger too. The bearings are for lawn tractors. I showed the stock linkage for comparison. I ditched the heavy factory clutch pedal spring like yours and used a much lighter one source from Autozone just to take up any free play. A lot of Mustang guys totally do away with that spring when using a diaphragm plate like I am. My set up works nice and smooth, no regrets.








As squirrel said, real men use mechanical linkage.

Wow........just getting around to the thread ..........great job!
I'll be anxious to see how clutch feels when I get it done.

[Monk]

Well my buddy got the shoebox up on the rack last week.........he called me with the good
news.......my rear main wasn't leaking.

It was two of the three oil plugs around the rear of the block around the cam.

We think that the TFE paste got washed out with the hot oil.......re installed them with
teflon tape.

Also installed a new set of Monroe overload shocks..........much better than the air shocks.
Less wheel hop when I really get into it.

Headers are off for another go around.........we had to re do some of the bends to better
clear steering and starter.
Welds getting cleaned up and will be blasted and sent back to coaters.

New rear shocks



Oil leak coming from this area behind flywheel

[Pro Fleetline]

Congrats on the magazine feature and making the calender well deserved now go enjoy that build!

[Monk]

Congrats on the magazine feature and making the calender well deserved now go enjoy that build!

I made the calendar?

[Pro Fleetline]

Yeh they had an insert 2012 calender with the mag all wrap in that dont open me plastic they put the mags in on the shelf nice calender actually congrats again on a well deserved build!

[Monk]

Yeh they had an insert 2012 calender with the mag all wrap in that dont open me plastic they put the mags in on the shelf nice calender actually congrats again on a well deserved build!

Yeah........what a surprise........they didn't tell me that I was going to be
Miss April!


I finally found some issues on the rack during my travels this week.

What a humbling experience.
I was glad to see the car in ink just so everyone involved got
their due.
It was a team effort.

My nieces husband, who built my headers, didn't get the mention I'd would've liked
but he's cool about the whole thing.