How much for a new clutch?

[Legolas894]

Well, my clutch was slipping really bad. The PO had the adjustment as far as it could go. I went to two different garages and the price is between $600 and $700 for new clutch and machining of the flywheel. Does this sound reasonable? I resigned myself to the fact that I can't do this myself. I just have the driveway and ramps to work with so just can't see how I can lift out the transmission remove the flywheel etc.

Thanks

[Shyguy]

I put a new clutch kit and flywheel on my 454 before we put the engine in my '71 C-10. I got everything at Auto Zone for right at $200.

Danny

[wp silverado]

its basic stuff to pull your trans. honestly id never pay to have one done especially not in something as simple as your truck. but if your deadset on not doing it that price is a good price for parts and labor

[Legolas894]

Originally Posted by wp silverado

its basic stuff to pull your trans. honestly id never pay to have one done especially not in something as simple as your truck. but if your deadset on not doing it that price is a good price for parts and labor

I've done brakes, water pumps, rads, wiring etc but without another "good" clutch to look at, just not sure I could get it all back together and working.

The assembly is $250 up here in Ontario. I found a lower price of $185 at parts place but he wasn't 100% sure it would fit my 283 housing.

[wp silverado]

its all very simple ive done mine in a night with numerous beer breaks. i may be a mechanic for a living but believe me its nothing but nuts and bolts and you or any other guy with a set of american sockets can do it

[special-K]

How do you do a clutch job in a night?Is there a night time machine shop for facing the flywheel?If it`s a 4spd that`s pretty tough alone and the flywheel part is what makes it a job.It`s always a pain to lock and break loose as well as torquing down.That sounds like a good price considering I spend close to $500 for my Centerforces I do myself.

[wp silverado]

in a night easy. flywheel was turned at work, granted he does'nt have that option it can still be done in a day stopping to take the flywheel to a shop and have it turned

[pat 70/71]

hey, you could buy a jack & trans adapter and get it done on a weekend . check with the auto parts store of your choice to see if they could surface your flywheel on a saturday & put it together on sunday! try it, clearly you have nothing to loose but $$$$ call a friend to help ya! best of luck, Pat

[tim21391]

bought one for my car with new flywheel for around 200 but i know thats way different then our trucks.. but the 6-700 most is labor im sure.. they are easy to replace its just time consuming.. i did my car in three days because it was front wheel drive four cylinder so being it rear wheel drive u dont gotta drop trans so im sure this is way easier.. if a 19 year old can do it with ease i bet u can do it with no problem

[frog trucker]

First of all, the price you mentioned for parts and labor does not seem out of line. As you already know, there is close to $200 worth of parts involved. The question then becomes how much work (and time) you are willing spend to save five hundred dollars. I hope I can encourge you if you reconsider doing it yourself. I am doing the clutch (my first time ever!) on my ‘68, in my driveway, and I did NOT have to jack the truck off the ground. I don’t have an impact wrench or any special tools. It took an hour or so to unbolt the driveshaft, shift linkage, clutch linkage, etc. I had a drain pan under the trans when I removed the speedo drive to drain the oil ( my trans has no drain plug!) Next, I bought a pair of four-inch long bolts at the hardware store, cut off the heads, and screwed them into the bellhousing to guide the trans onto my floorjack. My truck has an “apron” style bellhousing . . . there is a stamped steel inspection cover on the lower section. After removing the cover, I was able to remove the clutch fork, the driven disc, the pressure plate, and then the flywheel without having to remove the bellhousing! I found a spare pressure plate bolt and used it to hold a piece of bar stock to lock the flywheel when I removed the flywheel bolts. I have spent more time so far cleaning parts than actual “wrenching” time. BTW, my local machine shop gets $35 to resurface the flywheel and can do it in one hour. Anyway, if you have done a complete brake job (with turning drums, bleeding the hydraulics, cleaning/packing bearings, etc, etc.) you should find replacing the clutch just as, if not a lot more, easy than brakes, especially if you have the two-piece bellhousing like mine. Again, just some encouragement if you decide to DIY.

[cdowns]

the prices you were quoted dont seem bad// if you dont feel comfortable doing it yourself theres nothing wrong with farming it out

worst case you get egged on to try and do it yourself then it gets screwed up and then you need to buy the same parts twice plus more

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by cdowns

...worst case you get egged on to try and do it yourself then it gets screwed up and then you need to buy the same parts twice plus more

As my brother says, "sactly." (exactly)

Try it yourself if:

Have the time to do it
Have access to or can rent a trans jack
Have proper tools
Won't take short cuts like not replacing parts 'cause they look okay
Can afford to re-do it if parts are defective (has happened to me)

Other wise let them do it and make sure that there's some sort of guarantee in writing for labor and parts.

[1-PU70]

The way I was taught to take a transmission out (over 40 years ago) is to unbolt it, lie under it, pull it out and set it on your chest then roll it off. Installation is the reverse. Cant remember how many I did in the rain and snow and mud. Good luck.

[LMN8UR]

HINT: Living in a house with no garage and only a gravel driveway, a transmission jack is worthless. I found using a ratcheting strap very in lifting and holding the tranny while positioning and bolting in!
Necessity is a Mother!

[Shyguy]

I guess it depends on the transmission. One time I replaced the clutch on my '72 GMC with a granny 4 speed without dropping the transmission.

I just removed the high hump, strapped the transmission to a couple of 2 bys and slid it back.

Now a 3 speed would not really pose a weight problem compared to the old 4 speeds, but it would be nice to have a helper.

The last clutch we replaced was pretty easy since we pulled the 350 and put the clutch on the 454 before putting it in.

My son and I are pretty hands on when it comes to working on these old trucks, but do have to farm out any machine work on the engines.

If you have the money and don't have the time or feel comfortable doing it might as well have a shop do it.

Danny

[prostreetC-10]

If you do it yourself, watch the ramps! Many have met the maker with those things!

[truckdude239]

i paid 260 for an ac delco clutch for my truck. took bout 3 hours to install in drive way with no transmission jack. the 3 speed only weighs about 50 lbs

[Legolas894]

Originally Posted by truckdude239

i paid 260 for an ac delco clutch for my truck. took bout 3 hours to install in drive way with no transmission jack. the 3 speed only weighs about 50 lbs

Sorry-Mine is a 4-speed muncie=heavier. I should be getting it back from the shop this week. I'll let you know.

[Legolas894]

Well, the truck came back. The mechanic said it was the most worn out clutch he'd ever seen (and he's over 50) and was probably only touching on the top edge. The shifter was so bad he actually pulled it straight out (oops). So, now it drives like a completely different truck! I think it was worth it. What a difference in clutch travel too.

Thanks for all the advice.

[68gmsee]