Either no one has talked about it or I just can't find it doing a search. How do I adjust the clutch on my 54? Has the 239 with the 3 on the tree. It's slipping,just started and wasn't doing it til today. Thanks all.
You want to move the nuts on the shaft untill you have between 3/4 and 1 1/2 inches of play at the pedal. If you have trouble getting that, remove the bottom cover and adjust it untill you have .060 clearance between the flywheel and the disc when someone holds the pedal down.
And I called the local auto parts stores but nobody lists clutches,where is everyone buying their clutches and what are some prices?
find a clutch shop in your area, they could reline the disk and rebuild the pressure plate if you cant find one new.
old ladys mad is right find a local rebuilder, several aftermarket restorers list them but they think they are made of gold,average $200+ and you have to send in your cores so then you have shipping.Many H.D. trucks use Kevlar linings which can handle heat much better and cut down on wear to the pressure plate and flywheel so if that option is available I would advise it,the same shop can also resurface your flywheel.
Thanks ole don. Could it be my rear main throwing oil on the clutch/flywheel? Yes. If the FRONT of the flywheel is wet, its the rear main. If the front is relatively dry but the clutch is wet, the trans seal is bad. Parts are out there for these old cars, but maybe not on a shelf near you. For a stock engine, any quality rebuilt part should be OK. Try to find an old parts house with 40 watt bulbs hanging in the warehouse, and a guy with gray hair behind the counter. He is your new best buddy.
Ok well I'm gonna try adjustment today. If I have to buy a new clutch what years fit? Mines the 54 239,what size is it? 10 inch? How many splines? And springs? I finally got if running just awesome n my clutch starts slipping! Argh! Just can't catch a break,but its so worth it. Thanks for all the help n info. I'm going to take the cover off the bottom n check to see what's getting wet,I have the new rear main seal but I don't have the tool to do it,or cash to buy one yet.
So it looks like the adjustment is up by the brake master cylinder? Correct? And not underneath the car? Now which way do I need to move them? So there are more threads coming out of the top? Or less threads? Man do I need to buy a book for this thing,I just cant afford it
On my 55, the adjustment is between the Z bar and the clutch arm going in to the bell housing. Jack up the left side of the car and place a stand under the frame where it straightens out behind the left front wheel. Wiggle in there with a light, its easy to find. Take along a 3/4 and a 9/16 open end. Start getting up early Sundays and go to some swap meets. Look for the book sellers.
I bought a manual for my 55 from Macs for $30. I also bought the manuals on disc for 55 and 56 from Detroit Iron. Here in Oz Ford used the same clutch plate right through til they brought out those horrible twin plate abominations on V8's. You will probably find a early Mustang clutch will fit. From memory, the clutch for a 55 is a 10", 10 spline 1 1/16" input shaft. This is is the same clutch right through from 49. From what you describe the clutch plate is probably worn out. If it is oil on the plate, you can usually burn it off by slipping it heavily under load, but if the clutch plate is worn, you will speed up its demise. You dont need any special tools to change the rear seal just the inclination to do it yourself. Regards
The clutch was working just awesome though,even the day I drove it when it started happening,worked good in when I droves it to work but at lunch it started slipping,I just gotta believe its oil,I've had clutches go out before,start slipping and all that but this is different,especially knowing my rear seal is leaking so much oil its gross. I couldn't get under car this weekend because I had borrowed out my jack n forgot about it and can't get it back til today,so gonna shoot for later today,maybe do the rear seal while I'm down there. Doesn't seam to hard to do from everything I've read,hopefully with a little grease it'll slide right through
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