Could use a little Clutch help.

[Chlngrcrzy]

I was really hoping to get my car on the road before my 7 year anniversary this week end. I didn't make it.  This sucks       I have tried everything to get my clutch to work, and i just can't seem to get it to disengage. Impossible to even get it into gear with the car running.  I have adjusted it and adjusted it, and can't seem to get anything. Everything is new, Macleod Clutch and pressure plate (Diaphram style).  What the heck do i do next. I guess i will pull the transmission and clutch, and start over.
Whats the easiest way to pull the transmission?  Jack up the butt end?

[73EStroker]

Firstly ensure you have the correct bellcrank, pivot and fork. I had an incorrect pivot but still had to remove the gearbox and change the pressure plate. Lots of clutch issues here amongst the forum members and it sure looks like mismatched clutches being the issues.

[Chlngrcrzy]

Fork is a possibility of being wrong, but it came with the 318 that was originally in the car. I had to get a different bell housing, but i ordered the right fork pivot. Do you know what the length should be? I am assuming that the angle could be wrong also.     I guess i got to start somewhere.    Hate to have to start replacing things until i know for sure what is wrong.
I guess i will start by pulling the transmission and bell housing.

[Bullitt-]

did you see this? http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=98140.msg970101#msg970101

[Chlngrcrzy]

did you see this? http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=98140.msg970101#msg970101

Yes i did. I have the A-body adjuster rod. I have it adjusted way out, but i probably still have 1 to 2 inches left on it. It is really hard to push the clutch in now and it still grinds gears. Can i hurt or break something if i adjust it further out on the rod? I have taken the shield off the bottom to look inside but i can't seem to tell how far the Throw out bearing is pushing.

[Bullitt-]

Wish I could tell you anything definitive, my experience was 30-yrs ago on a Duster. I'd say go ahead and adjust until it slips then back off a few turns.
My clutch was hard to push & I traced the problem to missing bushings in the Z-bar. Replaced & greased those & it was like butter. 

[73EStroker]

Sounds like mine was. Hate to say it but you might have to go inside.  I tried everything in the book to cure The issue on the outside.

[Chlngrcrzy]

My Z bar and other parts are all new, etc. The large spring under the dash, i have heard that you can remove it if you want for these diaphragm clutches. Does it really matter?
I am going to adjust this rod another inch and see what happens.

[4 speed fish]

The big block clutch fork is 10.75 inches long and the small block is almost 12 inches long.What size clutch do you have? What bellhousing did you get?Does your input shaft retainer match your bell housing?

[Chlngrcrzy]

The big block clutch fork is 10.75 inches long and the small block is almost 12 inches long.What size clutch do you have? What bellhousing did you get?Does your input shaft retainer match your bell housing?

I thought that the fork was the same one in both small block and big block Challengers? Its not?
If it is different, then that is probably where my problem is.

[73EStroker]

I thought the 12" was for A bodies. I believe all Challenger forks are the same at 10.75" according to Brewers site. The difference is in the bellcranks and adjuster rods.

[Chlngrcrzy]

I got my clutch pulled today. One thing i did notice when i dropped out the tranny, was how close the 3 arms of the pressure plate were to the clutch disc. I did not pull the bell housing off, i dropped the clutch out of the bottom. As i loosened up all the bolts(6) the arms pulled further away from the clutch disc. This is normal, right? The pressure plate has tension against the clutch disc. I would have thought the arms would be further out though. Heres a picture of my pp. I don't see anything that is obvious, but then i know very little about this stuff.

[Chlngrcrzy]

Looking closer at the clutch disc, i can see where the arms have been hitting on or near the raised spring area on the disc. Clutch disc was installed the correct way, at least i think so. It has a label on it saying flywheel side.

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes the 3 arms will get closer to the disc as the bolts are tightened this put the spring pressure onto the disc . the adjustment of the lever pivots may be off , this is what 73E found to be the problem with his , on looks much lower than the others which could cause the PP the lift unevenly off the disc or drag on one side .

[Racer57]

I had the same problems as you with my 383 Cuda. I had a McLeod B&B pressure plate like that and it was not adjusted properly when I got it. Replaced it with a RAM diaphragm pressure plate.   Also my clutch plate had 3 large springs and it was swapped with one that has 6 small springs which allows for more travel.