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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 | Hello,
Does anyone have any tricks to holding the clutch plate in place while tightening the cover? Or, do I have to buy the tool?
Im working with a 235, 1955 engine.
Thanks,
Judson | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Judson, If you are lucky enough to have an old transmission, you can remove the front shaft and use it as an alignment tool. Many clutch-assembly sets include a plastic alignment tool (as shown at the link above). You could place a Want Ad in the Swap Meet and ask to borrow an alignment tool (and pay for shipping). You could put a city name in your Profile "Location" and someone nearby might offer to lend you a tool. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,097 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,097 | I could loan you a tool but "California" is a big place.
Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes
1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes
2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans
1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 420 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 420 | any auto parts store sells the alignment tool, that you just stick thru the clutch disc and into the pilot hole | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | The old trans shaft works better than the plastic ones. I have an extra plastic 1 or 2 around I can send you if you PM or e-mail me an address.
George
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 | I'm with George on that one, the input shaft from an old tranny works better than them plastic ones.
Brian
1955.2 3100 Truck
The older I get the more dangerous I am!!!!! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 | Thank you, Tim.
I actually do have the orig. 1941 tranny. I looked at it this morning, and it appears to just come off with 4 bolts.
I think Ill take your suggestion, pull it off, and use it for the guide.
Will it need a new gasket at that point? I assuming the trans oil will all come out at that point...
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | Sometimes the input shaft will pull out and sometimes the gear hangs on the cluster gear and it won't come out. Either way you will lose the needle bearings inside the input shaft when you pull it out. If the lube is drained I guess you could stand the tranny on it's front end while pulling the input gear and have gravity on your side. Heavy grease will hold the needle bearings to slide it back in.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
I would not pull an input shaft out of a good transmission - just to use it as an alignment tool, unless you will be getting rid of that transmission.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 | ok. Got it. Thank you. Ill just pick one up. They look rather inexpensive. Judson | | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 | I paid $10 bucks for mine, and it probably was one of the best things I spent $10 on, and it is reuseable. Indy 
1949 Dodge Coronet 1955 2nd Chevy 4400 1.5 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1957 Chevy 5400 LCF 2 ton 1966 Dodge D100 Sweptline 1968 Chevy P20 stepvan 1969 GMC LWB pickup 1972 GMC Sprint 1974 CP30 shorty bus There are three things that I've learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.----Linus Van Pelt Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,084 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,084 | Indy...can you post a link on where you bought the correct tool. I'd like to just buy one, don't have the time hunt one up in a salvage yard. Which one is the correct one?
Allen
Yeah, well, that's just like, you know , your opinion, man - The Dude
1948 Chevy 3600 - goal Original restoration, Current Stage 1 - Disassembly and getting body in primer
1954 GMC 3100 goal Hot Rod, Current Stage 1 - Get body in primer
1931 Ford Model A 5 window Coupe - Old Skool Hot Rod
1945 Ford 2N Tractor - Runs great
1964 Ford 2000 Tractor - Use it every week
1974 Stingray Corvette
| | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 |
1949 Dodge Coronet 1955 2nd Chevy 4400 1.5 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1957 Chevy 5400 LCF 2 ton 1966 Dodge D100 Sweptline 1968 Chevy P20 stepvan 1969 GMC LWB pickup 1972 GMC Sprint 1974 CP30 shorty bus There are three things that I've learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.----Linus Van Pelt Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9 | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,773 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,773 | All the broomsticks in my shop ended up several inches short- - - -cut off a section of handle and whittle it down to the right size to act as an alignment tool!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,084 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,084 |
Allen
Yeah, well, that's just like, you know , your opinion, man - The Dude
1948 Chevy 3600 - goal Original restoration, Current Stage 1 - Disassembly and getting body in primer
1954 GMC 3100 goal Hot Rod, Current Stage 1 - Get body in primer
1931 Ford Model A 5 window Coupe - Old Skool Hot Rod
1945 Ford 2N Tractor - Runs great
1964 Ford 2000 Tractor - Use it every week
1974 Stingray Corvette
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Referring to Materman's post about the O'Reilly's part: Pioneer Inc. - Clutch Alignment Tool Part # TAT5301 ($4.99) | | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 | you'll need to take the clutch in with you to match the splines on you're clutch there are many different ones.
Pete | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I have used my plastic one with the cone several times and it worked just fine. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 109 | | | |
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