Clutch Help

[unrealmach1]

Anyone know of a stock diaphram clucth kit that I could get from someplace like Autozone that would fit a '68 302? I thought the flywheel (157t) would fit 10 or 10.5? Would something form like an '80's mustang or bronco fit? I am converting from FMX to a T-5Z ( t-5 bellhousing) with the JMC Hydrualic Clutch. I looked at a pressure plate from a '93 mustang, but the bolt pattern is different on my flywheel.

 

[Rusty67]

The bolt patern should NOT be different on your flywheel. As far as I know all small block Ford v8s have the same bolt patern on the crank. They are however positioned in such a way that you can only put the flywheel on in one spot. This is to keep the ballance wieght on the flywheel in the correct possition.

That being said, if you put a 5.0 flywheel on an early 302 you are going to have ISSUES. The late model 5.0 motors use a 50oz imballance while the early motors use a 23oz (I or maybe 24oz ?) imballance. If you use the wrong imballance your motor will be out of ballance and vibrate it self to pieces.

You can have a machine shop reballance the flywheel to the correct imballance if you want to use a 5.0 flywheel on an early motor.

In 1985 or 1986 (I can't remember) Ford went to a 10.5 inch clutch and this style clutch uses dowl pins to locate the pressure plate. You will know the difference when you see the two flywheels.

I would recomend a king cobra clutch. It will bolt onto your 5.0 flywheel and its got good holding power with a reduced pedal effort. Careful when you go to buy one. People call everything a "king cobra" clutch these days. The actually one is manufactured by Valeo. If they say its a king cobra clutch and it doesn't say Valeo on it, then its not a real king cobra clutch. It may be just as good but it isn't the real deal.

 

[ron67fb]

I believe he's talking about the pressure plate bolt pattern, not the crank.

unrealmach1, you mentioned your flywheel yet you also say you're converting from FMX. Do you already have a replacement flywheel? I assume then it is a 1968 flywheel, which is what you tried to match the '93 pressure plate with?

The long-style and late-model diaphragm are indeed different bolt patterns. I bought a Centerforce clutch which is a diaphragm but with the Long bolt pattern. The price was very similar to a replacement HD clutch kit from Ford, Summit, etc. If you already have a '68 flywheel and don't want the hassle of re-balancing a late-model flywheel then that is the way to go. This was years ago so I don't know what else is available now. I think there are now flywheels drilled for both patterns.

Looking at the Summit clutch page, narrowed down to pre-73 302 engines there are both Long and Diaphragm clutches available. Don't go by the pictures, as some picture a diaphragm yet say "Long" in the product description.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnse...94925083+4294908282+4294840126+115+4294787402

Here's their lowest-priced diaphragm option:
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...908282+4294840126+4294787402+115&autoview=sku

 

[unrealmach1]

Thanks for the help guys.

The pressure plate bolt pattern is what I was talking about. I have a flywheel from a 289 out of a '68 mustang so I wanted to use that flywheel. I was just trying to find clutch set for < $100. When I looked at Summit the Zoom clutch didn't come up for me. The cheapest I found was the Ram for $135 and that is without the pilot bearing, so with everything including shipping I would be at around $160. $116 with the bearing will work for me though I wouldn't trust the descriptions at Summit all the time. I have bought things that have the wrong descriptions on their website. I bought the Unisteer rack for my '69 and it said it was chrome, but it was black when I got it. They told me they take their part number from the manufacturer and to check with the manufactures for a correct description. But @ $575 for a rack who complains? Again thanks for the help guys.