Posted by David Jensen on May 03, 1998 at 13:38:13:
In Reply to: Hydraulic Clutch Information Needed posted by Peter Galmish on May 01, 1998 at 16:43:31:
I put a '68 318 (small block)/NP435/hydraulic clutch in my '53 M-37. It has a spring at the slave cylinder hooked to a metal clip that bolts on the lower slave cylinder mounting bolt. The spring is not big, but it's stiff. It fits between the slave cylinder and the bell-housing. My shop manual is '62...pre-NP435, but I think the bell-housing/clutch are pretty much the same. It says to adjust for 1/8" free play at a stock pedal set-up, and that should be equal to .010 between the push rod and master cylinder piston. Then you adjust the slave cylinder push rod so it has 3/16" play. That should give about 1 1/2" play on a stock pedal set-up. I end up with a little more on my M-37 pedal and the clutch works fine. Unless I've got air in the line. You have to bleed the master cylinder by itself. I made up a long elbow of tubing with a flare fitting that goes into a bottle with brake fluid. Seems like you have to pump the pedal real fast about 15 times to finish getting all the air out when you bleed the slave cylinder. About the push rod on the slave cylinder: Why not find a stock replacement? If you are using the '66 engine, bell housing, and tranny, you should be able to use the '66 push rod too. Have fun.