I'm beginning to piece together my project. 40 pickup with a sbc backed by a NV3500 5-speed. fits nicely. I got to thinking that I hate the original hydraulic clutch and the hassle of adapting a hydraulic mastercylinder to the pedal assembly (or replacing everything entirely with new = $375) Thumbing through Jegs I saw Ford motorsport replacement cables for the mustang. bottom line, has anyone used a cable clutch with early Ford pedals. the clevis point is already on the pedal. the NV 3500 uses a traditional clutch fork arm on a pivot ball. Could it work? yeah, yeah, anything is possible with enough time and money. thanks for your constructive input.
I did a project with my son, his '65 Mustang got a 5 litre (302 Police Spl.) with 5 speed... Total Performance had a clutch kit that was way over the top co$$$t wise...They told us we HAD to use their kit, nothing else on the planet would work. (I love it when honiaks tell me sh!t like that!) We got a wrecking yard 5-Litre Mustang clutch cable, ran it from the new bell housing in the car thru the strengthened firewall, then to a bracket welded to the top of the Mustang pedal. (ended up at 6:1 pedal ratio, which should be the same as on your early Ford) Worked flawlessly. I'd do it again... D-Russ's tranny bracket is the way to go with the GM unit. (the Ford has a casting that is bored for the clutch cable housing but the cable comes from the front.)
I used the factory mustang clutch cable along with the factory fulcrum adapted to the original '54 Ford clutch peddle for the 5 speed transmission. It's not the best looking setup but it works just like the factory intended.HRP
D-Russ, Nice work and thanks for posting the picture. What cable did you use (it looks much shorter than a Mustang would require? Also, what clutch fork and fulcrum is required to make the T5 clutch disengage with the fork pulled to the rear? I'm putting a T5 into my 40 Coupe and plan to use the original pedals. Gordon
Gordy, DRuss was using a GM, so the clutch fork pulls to the rear, a Ford would pull to the front. He used a modified Mustang cable. check out his link to the original post
Thanks for the reply Dave. I think someone changed the fork and fulcrum in the Ford T5s to be able to pull from the rear. I was thinking a version of the Ford top loader 4 speed fork and a bolt-in fulcrum. I can't find the link now. I'll keep looking, it would be nice to be able to bring the cable in from behind to keep away from the other things on the left side of the motor (exhaust and steering, stc.) And sorry about the first post, I posted before reading your linked thread. Keep up the good work.
We used a Mustang cable on my Avanti Bonneville car with Studebaker V8 and T10 Borg Warner trans. Didn't use the factory one as the ratchet set up on the pedal sucks. They strip out when you use anything but a whimpy clutch. Aftermarket set up uses an aluminum ratchet item that mated to the HD cable works awesome even with a 3000lb. clutch cover.