Engine dies when clutch is depressed?

Went to move my '49 Ford under its own power for the first time tonight...no dice
It's got a 302 and a 70s 3-spd toploader. The engine dies/stalls out when I press the clutch pedal (gradually slows and dies as it is pressed further). This is my first time setting up clutch linkage, could I have too much travel? I'm expecting to pull the ****** (plan for the worst, hope for the best). Thanks for any help!

 

Has the engine been rebuilt? Believe it or not I seen a SB Ford built by some Chevrolet gear heads and they put the Crank Thrust Bearing in the rear! It didn't die when pressing the clutch but it sure pushed the balancer forward.

 

That's a new one for me! How does the pedal feel? Rough? Noisy? The engine runs fine in neutral, right? How about raising the rear wheels off the ground(block it up securely) the starting it in gear. Or how about something obvious like the clutch linkage pinching the gas hose or shorting a wire?

 

The more I think about it, it's probably too much clutch travel. I erred on the side of too much travel when setting it up. The flywheel, pp, clutch disc, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing are all new. I had the clutch fork drilled so the clutch rod is closer to the trans (giving more travel). I'll try moving it out (away from trans, less travel) tomorrow. It's definitely not an electrical/fuel problem.

 

Try starting it with the clutch depressed

 

2 thoughts...Is it binding the throttle linkage, making it choke? or...

if it has too much travel, can you just not push in all the way and disengage, or where is the sweet spot? does it die when halfway depressed? give it some zoloft.

 

It could be separation anxiety? I would try cheering the clutch up.

 

***

Any other suggestions?

 

Doing the same in my 51 soon, cable or linkage?? If you could send me some pics I'd love it.

Sorry but I got nothin for ya, hope ya get it figured soon.

 

Ok So you start the engine in neutral and it purrs like a kitten until you push in on the clutch pedal? Nothing else?...just pushing in on the pedal slowly kills the engine? I can't get my head around that one. If you were letting out on the pedal then I'd suspect that the trans was in 2 gears at the same time...locked up

 

Neutral safety switch wired backwards????? Does it shut off like its binding up or like the ignition is shut off? If its binding Id be looking at the thrust bearing mentioned earlier. Just cant figure how it could be the clutch

 

I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet (doing brakes ). There's no way the linkage is interfering with a fuel/ignition line; the clutch linkage is all under the floor. There is no neutral safety switch. What are the symptoms of too much clutch travel?

 

I had a car that would die every time you pressed on the brakes. Turned out it was a cracked power brake booster. Caused a big va***n leak. Are you sure the clutch is the cause?

 

i dont think you can have to much travel as the pressure plate fingers or arms can only move so far and then they bottom out, you should try giving your throwout bearing a spin to see if its stuck, it might slow your engine down till it wore through the pressure plate.

 

Tommy I have seen a situation like this 30 year ago.British car MG,Trumph? can't remember but heres the deal.Very bad crank thrust bearing when you stepped on clutch it bound up on pinched rod bearings.

 

clutch depression can lead to suicide.....please be careful

 

This might sound strange ,are you sure the clutch plate in right as far as flywheel side of plate to the flywheel?
Does it get harder to press as it goes down?

 

Just a thought...You are sure that the linkage is hooked up correct and not reverse by any chance?

Do you have the block grounded to the frame?


Who was that masked man?

 

Flatdog,
You could be onto something. In the old MG XPAG/XPEG (1945 - 1955) engines the sides of the center main bearing have to be honed to allow a few thousands fore/aft movement on the crankshaft - if not, it will bind when the clutch is depressed.

 

I am perplexed on this one. I really wanna hear what it was when you find it.

 

Well guys, I guess there is such a thing as too much clutch travel! I put the rear up on blocks, fired 'er up, pushed the clutch pedal down just enough so that it would go into gear, gave it some gas, and those rear tires were spinning! The engine idled down a little bit when the clutch was in, but it was hardly noticeable. Sorry for making you guys think too hard

 

If the pedal gets harder as you depress the peadl the linkeage is backwards or upside down.

 

Ok, here's a little update. The car was doing the same 'ol thing yesterday, and I still haven't got it moving, so I tore off the trans. The first thing I found was a VERY messed up/bent/wobby throwout bearing...guess I probably got the wrong one. A new clutch kit is in order, I guess.

 

Ok, another update. I put a new clutch kit and throwout bearing in. The car is doing the same thing. It will make a horrible noise as soon as the throwout bearing is engaged, and if I press the clutch pedal down, the engine will die. Is my trans toast? I'm about ready to set the car on fire

 

Keep the updates flying. This is amazing me. I really want to know what it could be. I doubt it is somehting wrong with the trans, but I couldn't tell you what to look for.

 

Have someone look at front pullys while you step on clutch with motor running.You are looking for end play in thrust bearing.

 

That was the only other thing I could think of, but would that smother the motor out each time, everytime? I can see that doing some great damage on the motor but not smothering it everytime.

Were the mains machined when the block was done?

 

The motor came out of a good running Maverick with a C4...I drove it around the block. I have no idea mileage or if it's been rebuilt. It has 75psi oil pressure at idle, drops to about 50psi when warm. I thought that was a bit high but the motor runs great. I think the trans is junk, if I had to guess.

 

Does the crank have a pilot bearing for the inputshaft?? auto trans would not have one???? just an idea??

 

It almost sounds like the throwout is grinding into the pressure plate thus loading the engine and killing it. Are you absolutely sure the clutch and throwout are matched and installed right? I'm not a ford expert, but post your full clutch hardware list and surely a HAMBr will validate it or point out issues. Good luck!