aftermath of my 5spd swap

Roadblock

Founding Member
Jul 13, 2002
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VA
i just finished my 5spd swap and i have a question for you guys....
(1) ok i have to push my clutch pedal to the firewall to get it to completely disengage

(2) it grinds into everygear no matter what with the clutch all the way down and a complete stop to egt into first it grinds and i HAVE to shove it in there and every time i switch gears it does the same thing roll or stop

i'm new to the manuals i've had auto most my life i can drive a 5spd with no problem so it isnt me, but i have no experence with them either so can anyone clue me into what is going on with my car, i swap in the 5spd cause of gas mileage and fun to drive, but this is no fun and i dont wanna have to do this again soon... thx :(
 
Roadblock said:
ok so if the stock one is self adjusting, and mine is grinding it ass off then what and how do i do something about it?

did you use the stock quadrant?

is it used?

If so it is most likely stripped and will not automatically adjust.

You need an aftermarket quadrant and adjustable cable.
 
My mustang has threads at the end of the cable with a nut that seats into the clutch fork. You have to play with that, and as far as I know this is totally stock since I see it on every mustang. I had to adjust this to get my clutch to properly disengage and engage. Give it a few turns to take the slack out. Most likely you didnt tighten it down far enough and so when you step on the pedal its only lightly pulling on the clutch fork. Jack up the car and with the car running put it in first. The tires should rotate like you are driving. Then push in the clutch, if the tires are still turning, you need to tighten on that nut. Keep doing that until the tires stop when you push on the clutch. I've used this technique on lots of different cars and it works fine.
 
ok so the part that u r adjusting is the piece at the pedal assembly correct?
and since mine is still partly engaged when i have the pedal pressed down, then i need to manualy press in the clutch with amy foot or something then pressin the pedal a lil bit then adjust it to take out some of the slack.....just tell me if that is correct so far...assuming i understand that part correctly....how much should i adjust it (is it like the kickdown on a automatic? just a little bit or a inch at the time)
 
Try This First...
Put your foot underneath the clutch pedal and pull up towards yourself...if this doesn't work try what Smock is saying! I have done this before and it worked for me! Just thought I might offer a quicker solution before you really get into it!

Jakob
 
No, the adjustment is where the clutch cable goes through the clutch fork. Why would that be involved? Just keep tightening till the wheels stop moving and then give it a little more. This is if you have the rear lifted like I was talking about. This test lets me know for sure that the clutch is fully engaging and disengaging.
 
No, the adjustment is where the clutch cable goes through the clutch fork. Why would that be involved? Just keep tightening till the wheels stop moving and then give it a little more. This is if you have the rear lifted like I was talking about. This test lets me know for sure that the clutch is fully engaging and disengaging.

Why wouldn't he try it first? It also adjusts the clutch and if it works it will be much faster! At least give it a shot, all you will waste is 5 seconds anyway!

Jakob
 
warmdye said:
A stock 92 cluctch is not manually adjustable.

as SuperStang83 stated it is adjustable, it's just usually broken. there is a plastic quadrant that is supposed to take up the slack. you can still use it - i do - it just takes some tweaking to do it manually. the easier way if yours is broken would be to shim the clutch fork end of things with some washers. i did this on a friends, just put the appropriate sized washer on a piece of wood, whack it with a ball pien(sp?) hammer to make a nice little cup for the ball on the end of the cable. also you'll need to cut a slice in it to get it installed.

-steve
 
sleeper89 said:
as SuperStang83 stated it is adjustable, it's just usually broken. there is a plastic quadrant that is supposed to take up the slack. you can still use it - i do - it just takes some tweaking to do it manually. the easier way if yours is broken would be to shim the clutch fork end of things with some washers. i did this on a friends, just put the appropriate sized washer on a piece of wood, whack it with a ball pien(sp?) hammer to make a nice little cup for the ball on the end of the cable. also you'll need to cut a slice in it to get it installed.

-steve

And when the clutch wears you have to go do this whole procedure on a regular basis. Sounds like a hassle to me. Just get an after market adjustable cable and quadrant or a firewall mounted adjuster.
 
warmdye said:
And when the clutch wears you have to go do this whole procedure on a regular basis. Sounds like a hassle to me. Just get an after market adjustable cable and quadrant or a firewall mounted adjuster.

ya, because i change my clutch on "a regular basis" :rolleyes:

certainly the most desirable method would be aftermarket quadrant/cable/adjuster. however, i'm giving the original poster his options. maybe he is on a tight budget, maybe he would rather spend the money elsewhere if there is a free fix available. i mean, come on, i did this when i changed my clutch, and i don't expect to do it again until i do the next clutch swap. maybe 4yrs.... i'll spend the $200 elsewhere thanks.

i'm not trying to start a flame war warmdye, i just don't understand why you would dismiss a free fix so easily. it may not be the best method but it will work, well at that.

-steve
 
Do I just have some funky stock clutch cable then because mine has a threaded end with a beveled nut that fits into the clutch fork. You just tighten that down and it takes the slack out of the cable. I've seen it on like 4 mustangs so I dont know what the big deal is here. I dont see any need for some crazy washer if you just tighten down the nut.
 
SmockDoiley said:
Do I just have some funky stock clutch cable then because mine has a threaded end with a beveled nut that fits into the clutch fork. You just tighten that down and it takes the slack out of the cable. I've seen it on like 4 mustangs so I dont know what the big deal is here. I dont see any need for some crazy washer if you just tighten down the nut.

nope, not a funky stock cable, not a stock cable at all. i presume you aren't the original owner.

-steve
 
SmockDoiley said:
I've seen this setup on all the mustangs I have worked on though. I thought it was a standard thing. What all are you guys running? What do you have sliding through the clutch fork?

have you only worked on pre 87 cars? maybe they're different :shrug:

on my car and ALL stock stangs i've worked on they employ the plastic quadrant (self adjusting at the pedal) and there is just a ball on the end of the cable to seat in the fork.

-steve