RAM clutch blues....

[LannyL81]

After several set-backs in getting my '81 back on the road again...I have reached yet another one. I have fought and battled against dropping the trans (again), but have run out of options and things to try.

The hard shifting problem continues and reverse just grinds and grinds. I have the clutch rod adjusted to the end and even with the cluch pressed to the floorboard...grinds and grinds.

I know the flywheel was resurfaced, but do not know how much was taken off. How critical is this? Do I need to get a shim between the crankshaft and flywheel? New flywheel? Or is it just this RAM PowerGrip clutch? I am hoping that may be the throw-out bearing came off one side of the clutch arm and that is what is causing all my problems....but still requires all the work involved in dropping the trans (again).

Anything else I could try before doing this?

I just want to drive my 81 instead of work on it. It's been two years now.

Lanny
Tucson, AZ

[JHL]

Hi,

I had a similar problem when I put the Quarter Master clutch in my 81, I had to replace the flywheel with a flex plate as it came with a small "flywheel" and couldn't get enough travel on the clutch pedal even with the nut right at the end of the rod. One simple solution is to have someone make you a short extention piece and a couple of locking nuts, cut the rod a bit behind the arm and put the extenion in place this should give you that little bit extra for ajustment and save all the hassle of shimming the flywheel. Alternatively you could replace the rod with a slightly longer one, I am sure you could get somewhere to make something fairly cheaply.

J.

[JohnZ]

Most of the "hot-rod" clutches (Ram, Zoom, etc.) don't have the same diaphragm finger height from the flywheel surface as the correct Corvette replacement clutches, so you can't achieve the proper clutch adjustment and pedal free play with the stock Corvette clutch linkage. If you order a replacement (like a LuK) made specifically for the Corvette application, you won't have any adjustment woes.

[glenkov48]

1 option is to get a longer or adjustable fork stud for the bell housing. These go in from inside the bell housing, so you still have some work to do. I like the above mentioned idea about extending the clutch rod length. I think I would try this first. PS My ram clutch works just fine.

[JHL]

Here's what I put in mine, a bit brutal for day to day use but it doesn't slip

[LannyL81]

Originally Posted by JHL

Here's what I put in mine, a bit brutal for day to day use but it doesn't slip

Okay, I give....how is this thing supposed to work?? Is it just a really small normal type of clutch? What is the advantage with this?

My clutch is not slipping....sort of the opposite....it will not let go. This is what makes the shifting hard and reverse just grind. Although I can put it into 1st gear and with the clutch pedal down rev the engine and find the point to where the car starts to move..and it is not with the pedal on the floor. Try reverse..even with the pedal on the floor...grind, grind, grind. Once into reverse...its fine..I can press the clutch in and find the friction point...just can't shift into gear with the engine running.

I had the trans gone through during my engine rebuild and I hope the guy did not do something wrong when he put it back together. It will shift into all the gears with the engine not running just fine.

I guess will just drop the trans and check the throw-out bearing first, then remove the bell housing and check out the clutch.

Later,
LannyL81

I have had the same problem in the past with a Hays clutch. It is no longer in my car. I went to a centerforce duel friction that works fine. The hays required more travel than stock and I just could not acheive proper ajustment useing ajustable ball studs and anything else. I measured all three of the clutches to confirm the required extra travel. Beware of billet flywheels also because the one I have ( Hays) is set further back than the stock piece rquiring a very long ball stud (adjustable from Mcload) It can get very complicated when you mix and match parts but you must have the ball stud at the right depth and a clutch without to much travel. Several years ago Hot Rod did a great article about GM clutch adjustment that expains it all and helped me through the maze. Many shops you go to have no idea how to properly ajust a clutch.