Question regarding z-bar and installing engine - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Yukon Jack** · 01-09-2007, 12:06 PM

I will be putting my rebuilt 400 sbc in my 70 K5 in the near future and it has a manual transmission so it has a z-bar for the clutch linkage.

How does one go about attaching the z-bar? Do you slip the z-bar on the ball post on the side of the engine as your sliding and dropping the engine in place or do you worry about it after the motor is in? If you wait for the motor to be in, do you leave the ball post on the engine and work the z-bar in place or something else?

Guess this gives me a good reason to post a pic of the 400 cause it shows the ball post for reference

knsmodels · 01-09-2007, 03:33 PM

Yukon.....when I installed my motor I left the Ball on the block, but you can easily get to everything even after the motor is in (dont ask how I know, just be sure to use locktite on the ball to the block).....Have fun with the install.

PS....nice looking motor by the way

red71cheyenne · 01-09-2007, 07:54 PM

The way I put mine in was leave the ball on the engine, then pull the motor mount bolt from below, jack up the engine a little and slide the z-bar in and bolt it up after lowering the engine back down. Thats the only way I could get mine in. Anyone else have a different way?

jeffspower · 01-09-2007, 10:30 PM

I always found it the easiest on my '68 to slip the ball into the tube of the zbar, then slide it out & thread it into the block after the engine is in place. That way I didn't have to fight my headers, getting the ball into the zbar & stabbing the clutch all at once. At least that's how I remember doing it, it's been over 20 years since the last time I done it. I've done 100 or more 73-up since then, but everythings different & goes together easier on those.

Just curious, where did you get the 400? I sold one to griesel72 in 2003. I never did follow up on what he done with it.

jeffspower · 01-09-2007, 10:45 PM

I guess If I would have been following the action around here a little closer, I would have known that he installed my 400 in his truck right after he got it from me. DUH

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=78152&page=2

gmcman7202 · 01-09-2007, 11:11 PM

i messed with it after i put in my 400 in my jimmy. it was easy to get the zbar on, but i had one battle dealing with the linkage, as it was all butchered by the po. flexed to much, and hit the headders when depressed, when they were suposta work with everythgin no prob. ugh, i still have nighmares over the topic.

01-09-2007, 12:06 PM	#1
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,686	Question regarding z-bar and installing engine I will be putting my rebuilt 400 sbc in my 70 K5 in the near future and it has a manual transmission so it has a z-bar for the clutch linkage. How does one go about attaching the z-bar? Do you slip the z-bar on the ball post on the side of the engine as your sliding and dropping the engine in place or do you worry about it after the motor is in? If you wait for the motor to be in, do you leave the ball post on the engine and work the z-bar in place or something else? Guess this gives me a good reason to post a pic of the 400 cause it shows the ball post for reference __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 06-24-2010 at 11:59 AM.

01-09-2007, 03:33 PM	#2
knsmodels I make Models Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bucks, PA Posts: 626	Re: Question regarding z-bar and installing engine Yukon.....when I installed my motor I left the Ball on the block, but you can easily get to everything even after the motor is in (dont ask how I know, just be sure to use locktite on the ball to the block).....Have fun with the install. PS....nice looking motor by the way __________________ Click to see what I do 1972 LWB K10 350/4 sp 1968 SS Chevelle 396/tremac5spd Last edited by knsmodels; 01-09-2007 at 03:34 PM.

01-09-2007, 07:54 PM	#3
red71cheyenne Back in the sticks Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fordland, MO Posts: 3,188	Re: Question regarding z-bar and installing engine The way I put mine in was leave the ball on the engine, then pull the motor mount bolt from below, jack up the engine a little and slide the z-bar in and bolt it up after lowering the engine back down. Thats the only way I could get mine in. Anyone else have a different way? __________________ 1971 Cheyenne C-10 w/700R4 and Tuned Port Injection 1969 K5 Blazer w/Tuned Port 2010 2SS/RS Flaming Orange Camaro 2011 K1500 Suburban 2014 K1500 Pickup 2008 Nissan Altima? The wifes' hoopty

01-09-2007, 10:30 PM	#4
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Question regarding z-bar and installing engine I always found it the easiest on my '68 to slip the ball into the tube of the zbar, then slide it out & thread it into the block after the engine is in place. That way I didn't have to fight my headers, getting the ball into the zbar & stabbing the clutch all at once. At least that's how I remember doing it, it's been over 20 years since the last time I done it. I've done 100 or more 73-up since then, but everythings different & goes together easier on those. Just curious, where did you get the 400? I sold one to griesel72 in 2003. I never did follow up on what he done with it. __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

01-09-2007, 10:45 PM	#5
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Question regarding z-bar and installing engine I guess If I would have been following the action around here a little closer, I would have known that he installed my 400 in his truck right after he got it from me. DUH http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=78152&page=2 __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

01-09-2007, 11:11 PM	#6
gmcman7202 Active Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 188	Re: Question regarding z-bar and installing engine i messed with it after i put in my 400 in my jimmy. it was easy to get the zbar on, but i had one battle dealing with the linkage, as it was all butchered by the po. flexed to much, and hit the headders when depressed, when they were suposta work with everythgin no prob. ugh, i still have nighmares over the topic.

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