This truck seems to have some previous owner issues as I get more into it. This clutch is incredibly hard to disengage. A lot of foot pressure. At first I reasoned it was all rusty inside and needed to “loosen up”. Well it hasn’t gotten any better and looking in there, things don’t really look very rusty. I sprayed a bit of lube into the clutch spring area to test. No change. It grabs just fine, and the disc looks normal thickness. Then I “ reasoned” (always dangerous), that the wrong clutch has been put in it. But, if for instance it was a clutch meant for a 1-ton, it doesn’t seem it would be appreciatively harder to push down, because 1-ton truck doesn’t need that much more pressure. Or maybe throwout installed wrong? Do any of you have any ideas what to check? I have looked at a 261 today, in a friend’s parts car collection! It’s in a 59 Canadian Pontiac, automatic. It’s available and I would like to fix it up for this truck. Mated to my 4 speed of course. This car, The Pontiac, has a new,to me, hydraulic cylinder power steering assist on the tie rod,powered by a pump mounted to the back of the generator! Just a side observation. So, if anyone has an idea about the clutch situation, I’d appreciate hearing. The old truck get togethers sure sound fun. Maybe someday soon….. C
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
What about the clutch pedal return spring ? Has someone installed the wrong spring? Have you greased the grease zerk on the brake pedal / clutch pedal shaft ?
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
That power steering pump on the back of the generator was common with Chevy cars in the second half of the 50s.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
Well, the pedal moves normal/easily until near the floor, and then the resistance gets very hard, and I have to , and anyone who drives it has to stand on it pretty hard. I can pull this clutch out and get it right, but I was hoping to see if I can determine anything ahead of time. Thanks Gord and Dusty for the suggestions. C
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
The clutch on my 2 ton was trashed when I bought the truck, I pulled the engine and tranny to replace the clutch and do some other work. My clutch is smooth and easy on the leg, I stayed with a Borg and Beck style as it was original to the truck. Since mine is a "modern" 283 V8 and SM420 I sourced the clutch kit at the local chain auto parts.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
Steelonsteel Maybe you have a bent finger pressure plate,I made the mistake of putting one of those in my old truck,just tuff to hold down. Is it a special color?? may be a racing stiff version for drag racing. My 51 6400 clutch is easy to hold down and has done big loads still OK.
Ok, I have the clutch out now. I am trying to parse this out, whether it is the wrong clutch disc, and what new clutch to order. In light of the problem described above, Can anyone tell from the pictures whether this is a clutch that would belong in this truck? The pressure plate assembly looks old and venerable and makes me assume it was in a long time. The disc is new. The dust pan shows a sliced hole from an obviously disintegrating clutch disc. Maybe a synchro driven overspeed in a shift to second instead of fourth. So, is the diaphragm type clutch correct for this truck? Is the clutch disc obviously for a different truck altogether? I know the transmission was changed to an old four speed. The engine is about a 59 , 235. With the disc installed with the side where the spring assembly protrudes to the pressure plate, I get the condition described. It wont go in the other way, hits the flywheel bolts. Basically, I just want to order all new clutch, but am confused and not confident what to order. It’s 10 inch , 10 spline.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
ISTM that if the clutch fits the flywheel, you should be OK. You might have the wrong throwout bearing. Anyway, you should order the new clutch from a local store since the return shipping to an online store was costly.
The same clutch disc was used on the 1/2 ton trucks from 1954 through at least 1969 (that's as far as my book goes).
Group 0.886 Clutch with facing
10" molded....3828847
10" woven....3833122
Your clutch look right to me and the standard duty 10" pressure plate was the diaphragm type.
So this is a one and done deal, I'd have the pressure plate and flywheel re-faced at a machine shop unless your buying new parts, then you just need to do the flywheel.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Gord, that thread was very informative. Thanks for sending that link. Going to look at my options some more. Gonna test that old pressure plate. Then see.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 “Bud” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996
