got me a t-5!

[Scot_Douglas]

I've got about 10 miles on the road with it, and it does its job well.

Sorta.

I could use a bit different setup if I ever want to drive it in stop-and-go traffic. :P The pedal effort is high and the "takeup" in the clutch is a bit too fast, but it works and it let me use headers that are causing all kinds of other troubles.

[66redw/white]

well i got my trans tore down just alittle bit and found me a machine shop thatll make my spacer. should have it in the truck somewhere round the 1st of oct. then ill have to get a driveshaft made and find a rear end as my old stuff kicked the bucket. jocko did you stay with a 2 piece or did you go to just 1?

[jocko]

my truck is a shortbed, had a 1 piece in it already.

[Scot_Douglas]

My truck had two driveshafts that I replaced with one; although I *DID* shorten my wheelbase 5".

I got an aluminum driveshaft custom made from http://www.actionmachineinc.com/ complete with T-5 yoke, 8.8" axle flange (for my IRS) and the bigger u-jounts for $400 shipped to my door.

[66redw/white]

my stuff is finally comin back together. i got me a new clutch for the truck. im pretty excited about that. i also have a lead on a parts truck for 300 bucks. i have one question about the clutch i got thou. it said it was a 9 and an 8th inch disc. its the closest i could find to the factory 10 inch with 14 splines. i figured if the pressure plate doesnt bolt up ill just use the old one. what did yall use with your setups?

[jocko]

Highly recommend a mid 80's Astro Van 11" clutch and pressure plate kit from any local parts store (OReily's, Napa, etc) - it will fit in the truck bell hsg, and has the correct 1" dia 14 spline disk - I would not use a 9" clutch, even with a 6 cyl. Caution when mixing/matching clutches and pressure plates (as you're proposing to do above with an old pp and new disk and who knows which release bearing) - while it may all bolt to the flywheel (and it will) - although all the various combos used by the factory have to fit within the confines of the bell housing, note that not all parts were the same "stacking height" (i.e. as in the thickness of the pressure plate and the thickness of the release bearing, etc). Had I used my old release bearing with my new asto van clutch, it would have been VERY crowded, probably would not have worked - why, you ask? Because here's what I noticed - in my original setup on the truck, the pressure plate was kinda thin BUT the release bearing was thick. In the Astro van setup (kit) I installed, I was initially very concerned because the pressure plate was noticeably thicker than my original - BUT then I noticed the release bearing in the kit was much thinner also. So, bottom line - the matched parts worked well together and didn't "stack up" to be too much or too little stuffed into the bell housing. If I'd used the Astro van pressure plate (thicker) and original release bearing (thicker) it might not have all fit. So, that is why I am a big fan of always buying clutch kits together as a kit (disk, pp, release bearing). That way you know it was engineered to work together - whereas if you mix and match parts, you may get lucky, you may not. My 2 cents.

[66redw/white]

thanks for the tip jocko! i wasnt aware that the 11 inch would fit. thats the only reason i went with the little s10 one. i was really wondering if that little bitty clutch would work. ill be takin that sucker back and gettin the astro van clutch. again thanks!

[jocko]

you're very welcome 66r/w!

[66redw/white]

so heres a q for ya. as far as gettin the presureplate bolted to the flywheel. the holes are gonna be about an inch off. howd you get around that?

[brokenspoke]

Originally Posted by jocko

Highly recommend a mid 80's Astro Van 11" clutch and pressure plate kit from any local parts store (OReily's, Napa, etc) - it will fit in the truck bell hsg, and has the correct 1" dia 14 spline disk - I would not use a 9" clutch, even with a 6 cyl. Caution when mixing/matching clutches and pressure plates (as you're proposing to do above with an old pp and new disk and who knows which release bearing) - while it may all bolt to the flywheel (and it will) - although all the various combos used by the factory have to fit within the confines of the bell housing, note that not all parts were the same "stacking height" (i.e. as in the thickness of the pressure plate and the thickness of the release bearing, etc). Had I used my old release bearing with my new asto van clutch, it would have been VERY crowded, probably would not have worked - why, you ask? Because here's what I noticed - in my original setup on the truck, the pressure plate was kinda thin BUT the release bearing was thick. In the Astro van setup (kit) I installed, I was initially very concerned because the pressure plate was noticeably thicker than my original - BUT then I noticed the release bearing in the kit was much thinner also. So, bottom line - the matched parts worked well together and didn't "stack up" to be too much or too little stuffed into the bell housing. If I'd used the Astro van pressure plate (thicker) and original release bearing (thicker) it might not have all fit. So, that is why I am a big fan of always buying clutch kits together as a kit (disk, pp, release bearing). That way you know it was engineered to work together - whereas if you mix and match parts, you may get lucky, you may not. My 2 cents.

I'm confused...which pressure plate did you use....I was under impression the Astro PP had a different bolt pattern

[jocko]

Hmmm. I bought the 11" mid-80's Astro Van pressure plate combo from Oreily's and it bolted to my flywheel in the same bolt holes as my original.

Could this be a V8/I6 difference? Astro Van was same bolt pattern as the flywheel on my 283.

[brokenspoke]

Originally Posted by jocko

Hmmm. I bought the 11" mid-80's Astro Van pressure plate combo from Oreily's and it bolted to my flywheel in the same bolt holes as my original.

Could this be a V8/I6 difference? Astro Van was same bolt pattern as the flywheel on my 283.

Interesting....

[66redw/white]

well dang...... ill give it one more good look to make sure that i didnt just make a dumb mistake linein the holes up.

[jocko]

It is, but I sure hope I didn't send 66r/w down the wrong path with some bad gouge! Maybe post in the engine section to find out if fly bolt patterns are different. 66r/w - u r doing this with an I6, correct? I'm kinda stumped.

EDIT - Ha! I was posting a reply to brokenspoke - wasn't saying it is a dumb mistake!! Timing is everything...

[66redw/white]

yea its a 250 straight six. dont worry i still have the reciept! i just wanna get this sucker on the road! im takin it to daytona in nov for the rod run. id like to make sure all the kinks are out first.

[66redw/white]

looks like ill need either a new flywheel or a different clutch. the reason being that mine is only drilled for the 10 inch clutch. most are drilled for both. son of a midget.

[jocko]

crimeny! I know what you mean, I was on jack stands from May til Sept. But of course breaking my foot didn't help.

[66redw/white]

bout how much does gettin a flywheel machined cost? i also wonder if the center bolt pattern is the same as for the astro van i bought the clutch for. brand spankin new flywheel aint but 50 bucks

[lilpoindexter]

I put a 1352-028 1983 F-Body T-5 behind the 250 in my '78. I used a 1987 truck bellhousing with hydraulic slave from an '87 and a master from an '88. My truck's shifts are kind of crunchy, but hey, the trans is from an (almost) 30 year old mullet mobile. I drove the thing to work all week, it makes a huge difference in how usable the truck is. My truck had three on the tree, which I thought was cool, but the ratios were terrible...I haven't ever missed the old trans. My mpg went from 12 to 15 in mixed use, and 17 on all highway.

[66redw/white]

what did you use for the flywheel?

[66redw/white]

searched through summit and it seems as though 14 spline and 10 inch clutch does not exhist. so ill be stickin with this clutch. i just need to get a flywheel

[jocko]

66r/w - just thought of this - you should probably email the guy at Vintage Metal Works - his adapter is advertised for T5-to-I6, specifically - I'd ask him what pressure plate/flywheel combo etc is best for your setup, he's probably done it - just a thought. He's a great guy. http://vintagemetalworks.blogspot.co...ter-plate.html

[brokenspoke]

Jocko...I just checked Orileys online...as you stated Astro did have a 11 inch clutch...I wasnt aware of this....maybe the difference is between a 10 inch and 11 inch pressure plate.....I'm going to check furthar....thanks for the info....

[jocko]

here's what I used, worked great (you're probably already seen it): http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1351&ppt=C0015
Note - I've discovered that OReily's online part numbers don't always make sense to the 9guy behind the counter - but if you walk in with this printed out, they will find it and have it. Usually a 1 day turnaround if not in stock. I did say "usually" - due to some behind the counter antics, mine took a week, but generally speaking, I'm glad there's at least an OReily's in my town. We also have a good autozone counter guy as well. Hope that helps. NAPA also sells almost the same thing, but they do carry the part also.

[66redw/white]

yeah i usually just go right up to the comuter and look it up myself. then just tell the guy "this is what i want" the problem i am havin is that most flywheels have a dual bolt pattern on them for the pressure plate to bolt up to. mine only has the 10 inch bolt pattern. the clutch is going to fit inside the bell housing and all of that but im going to need a new flywheel to bolt it up to. so far i have priced an astro van flywheel.(matches the clutch so at least i know that will work) and its only 64 bucks. originally i thought about just going back down to a 9 and a half inch disc as that would use the 10 inch bolt holes but then i felt up my flywheel. talk about some use on that sucker! so i plan to get a new one. as long as the bolt holes match and the teeth work. i should be in business. now hopefully my machinest will get to work on my frigen spacer. otherwise im gonna be buyin the one from your link!