Pressure plate and throwout bearing help, 383 and an 18 spline 4 spd.

Author Topic: Pressure plate and throwout bearing help, 383 and an 18 spline 4 spd.  (Read 1238 times)

Offline Revere

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Hello

I was under my car looking at my clutch and pressure plate on my 70 Challenger because the clutch pedal is so hard to push in.  The throwout bearing is touching the fingers on the pressure plate, actually pushing them in a little bit.  From what I know, there is supposed to be a gap between the bearing and the fingers until you push the clutch pedal?  The pressure plate looks to be a Centerforce and the throwout bearing is really thick, it looks to be the kind with the iron collar.   I have a 383 ci engine mated to an 18 spline 4 speed. 

I am wondering what I can do about this.  I've read on this site that the Centerforce isn't very popular.  Does Centerforce use a special throwout bearing?  All the Mopar bearings I can see for sale look to have the iron collar.  I am going to replace the clutch disc and throwout bearing and maybe switch to a Borg & Beck style pressure plate or the B&B long style from Mcleod.  Do you think this will take care of the problem or am I missing something?  Which pressure plate would be correct to mate the 383 and the 18 slpine trans- 10.95 or 11"?

Is there a big difference in pedal feel from the B&B or the Mcleod B&B long?  What about pressure plates from RAM or Hays?  I am just wanting to order all the correct parts the first time.  Thanks 
« Last Edit: March 08, 2005 - 09:10:15 PM by Revere »




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Personally I~m not a fan of the CForce clutch ,they have lighter clamping load at low rpm to reduce pedal pressure which works well with small engines with low torque that ev to high rpm , but with high torque you need more clamping pressure at low rpm , generally these have the lightest pedal pressure so you obviously have a problem you need to find frist , , possibly the pressure plate is the cause of the hard pedal
 You should have a 10.95" clutch in a 70 if it has not been changed to the 69 set up
 you should have 1/2 -1" of free play on the pedal before the release brg comes into contact with the pressure plate
 the 18 spline tranny does use a different release brg , but it is the same with a C force or BB style clutch
To my knowledge neither Hays or Ram make the BB/Long style , the BB/Long has a lighter pedal feel & can be shifted faster & is more stable at higher RPM , wether it is worth the extra cost in your application is your call
« Last Edit: March 09, 2005 - 02:05:28 AM by Chryco Psycho »

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Offline Revere

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CP,

Is there any way to tell if it is a 10.95 or 11" while it is still in the car?  The bellhousing seems to be made of cast iron, feels the same as the engine block. 

Offline Chryco Psycho

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if the belhousing is iron a magnet wil stick to it & it will have the larger 11" system 

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t