Upper Clutch Linkage

[Fly By Night]

Hey guys, I am need of the clutch linkage that goes between the clutch pedal and the bell crank, my original looks was reinforced with some welded on flat bar at some point and the end of the rod into the bell crank is getting worn relatively thin. What is out there for replacements? LMC has a kit with both linkages that have some heim joint things on the ends, that looks appealing for smooth operation instead of steel on steel, has anyone tried one?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

Hey guys, I am need of the clutch linkage that goes between the clutch pedal and the bell crank, my original looks was reinforced with some welded on flat bar at some point and the end of the rod into the bell crank is getting worn relatively thin. What is out there for replacements? LMC has a kit with both linkages that have some heim joint things on the ends, that looks appealing for smooth operation instead of steel on steel, has anyone tried one?

You might try the parts boards. There are quite a few guys parting trucks out. You can't post a wanted to buy unless your name is in Blue (Premium Member) but if someone has one for sale you can buy it. Check all of the parts boards because the clutch rod should be the same except for maybe 4x4's....

LockDoc

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

Hey guys, I am need of the clutch linkage that goes between the clutch pedal and the bell crank, my original looks was reinforced with some welded on flat bar at some point and the end of the rod into the bell crank is getting worn relatively thin. What is out there for replacements? LMC has a kit with both linkages that have some heim joint things on the ends, that looks appealing for smooth operation instead of steel on steel, has anyone tried one?

About 11 years ago -- before LMC "stole" my idea -- my machinist threaded a steel rod on both ends, and I screwed on some heim joints to make an upper clutch rod when the OEM Upper Clutch Rod for the L6 [292] became obsolete.
Still works great. I did have an issue when one of the arms of the Z-Bar broke off, but that can happen to any 40+ year old metal structure in daily use.
For what LMC wants for their Heim joint rods, I think you could fabricate a couple of clutch rods yourself, with a machinist.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

You might try the parts boards. There are quite a few guys parting trucks out. You can't post a wanted to buy unless your name is in Blue (Premium Member) but if someone has one for sale you can buy it. Check all of the parts boards because the clutch rod should be the same except for maybe 4x4's....

LockDoc

L6 and V8 are different, Doc.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

L6 and V8 are different, Doc.

Yep, forgot about that.... Thanks.

LockDoc

[El Dorado Jim]

I would go for the one from LMC with the heim joints

[Fly By Night]

Have you tried them Jim?


Did you notice a difference in pedal pressure vs. stock sunshine?

[Lattimer]

I built my own with heim joints. Now both the upper and lower links are adjustable, all the wear and slop is gone, and the motion is way smoother. Took a Saturday and about $50 for joints, tube ends, and some DOM tube.

[Fly By Night]

Is the upper rod strait from the factory? Mine looks like it has some curve to it but it might have been bent before it was reinforced. Lmc says theirs is only compatible with exhaust manifolds but I don't see any way they would interfere with headers, maybe heat being closer is the issue?

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

Is the upper rod strait from the factory? Mine looks like it has some curve to it but it might have been bent before it was reinforced. Lmc says theirs is only compatible with exhaust manifolds but I don't see any way they would interfere with headers, maybe heat being closer is the issue?

Mine had a slight bend in it (original L-6 3-speed truck), but I don't know if that is factory or not.

I had already had to modify the z-bar to work with my headers, so a straight rod from the pedal attachment worked perfect for me.

[Fly By Night]

Mine definatly has some curve to it, the lmc one looks totally strait, I wonder how that works. Has anyone tried their kit?

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

Mine definatly has some curve to it, the lmc one looks totally strait, I wonder how that works. Has anyone tried their kit?

I prefer to buy stuff anywhere BUT LMC.

I would bet LMC is reselling the kit from here:

http://cmc.speeddirect.com/itemdesc....%2D125&eq=&Tp=


I basically copied that and just made my own for less than half

[Fly By Night]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

I prefer to buy stuff anywhere BUT LMC.

I would bet LMC is reselling the kit from here:

http://cmc.speeddirect.com/itemdesc....%2D125&eq=&Tp=


I basically copied that and just made my own for less than half

The verbage there sure does sound very similar to the lmc catalog. Thanks for the link, I didn't have any idea I could get these elsewhere, I bought a bunch of stuff from lmc once and want overly impressed with the quality.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

The verbage there sure does sound very similar to the lmc catalog. Thanks for the link, I didn't have any idea I could get these elsewhere, I bought a bunch of stuff from lmc once and want overly impressed with the quality.

That has been my experience also.

[Fly By Night]

I called speed direct, they do make the kit lmc sells. Their engineer said it would only work with strait rods, which mine clearly isn't. Those that made your own did your upper rod have a link in it like this? He thought the curved linkage meant it was a 4wd which my truck is not any thoughts on an alternative?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

I called speed direct, they do make the kit lmc sells. Their engineer said it would only work with strait rods, which mine clearly isn't. Those that made your own did your upper rod have a link in it like this? He thought the curved linkage meant it was a 4wd which my truck is not any thoughts on an alternative?

The Upper Clutch Rod with the dogleg is for the V8. The L6 Clutch rod was straighter, but not totally straight.
PIX:

[Fly By Night]

Thanks Sunshine, that's just the explanation I was looking for!

[Fly By Night]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

I built my own with heim joints. Now both the upper and lower links are adjustable, all the wear and slop is gone, and the motion is way smoother. Took a Saturday and about $50 for joints, tube ends, and some DOM tube.

Did yours have the "strait" or curved upper rod? The kit will only replace a strait rod. Im tempted to retrofit curved joints onto my curved rod.

[Lattimer]

My truck had the straight rod because it was originally an L-6. My small block sits in the L-6 rearward position. I did have to modify the z-bar when I put the headers on it to clear, the ear for the upper clutch rod to attach had to move away from the engine.

the linkage I made is just straight DOM tubing sourced on eBay with 3/8" teflon heim joints and matching tube ends I got from either Jegs or Summit. I think I have $50 in the whole setup. I used a reverse threaded piece in the upper clutch rod so I can just turn the rod to set the pedal height. Took a Saturday to cut everything to length and weld it all up. I made a new bottom link as well.

This is one of my favorite modifications I had done to the truck. The clutch is so much smoother now without the slop in the linkage.

[Lattimer]

I have no clue why the posting turned 2 of the photos sideways....

[Fly By Night]

That's slick. Is a rubber boot on there like that how they came? Mine clearly has been monkeyed with.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

That's slick. Is a rubber boot on there like that how they came? Mine clearly has been monkeyed with.

Yes, thats a stock reproduction boot.

[Fly By Night]

What if I were to add heim joints to my current 'dogleg' rod? Would the kink in it somehow put odd stress on the joints?

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Fly By Night

What if I were to add heim joints to my current 'dogleg' rod? Would the kink in it somehow put odd stress on the joints?

It would be fine.

[Fly By Night]

I think I'm going to modify my current rod to take heim joints. I guess a shouldered bolt goes through where the rods poke into the cross bar? What size of hole do I need going through the joint?