Clutch Issues ?

Clutch Issues / Death ?

I recently installed a UPR Quadrant and Firewall Adjuster, but kept the stock cable on. I made sure that there was a little bit of free play at the top of the pedal, but I did find myself having to tighten the firewall adjuster a couple of times. I thought this was because it screwed loose somehow, but now that I think about it my cable might have been stretching. Not sure.

Today I was driving back home to NY from Delaware, and when I floored the car the revs would go up but the car wouldnt go faster... but if i accelerated slowly there would be no problems.

I didn't notice any problems when shifting, and I could feel the clutch grabbing.

When I got into Manhattan, my problems got alot worse. The clutch was catching very high and the car was revving alot. I finally pulled over, and tried playing with the firewall adjsuter. I tried every setting (both max in and out and in between). If I made the pedal really stiff, the car would inch forward towards the very top of the pedal, and then just rev after that. The cable was also acting really funny when I was trying this- it would be very stiff if i adjusted it so, but then if i turned the car on and drove it would just get all loose and have alot of free play.

Needless to say, I had to have the car towed home. What I noticed though, is that when the car is off, and I put it in gear, the car will still roll. What does this mean?

89sleeper said:

What kind of shape was your clutch in? What hook did you use with the quadrant? Did you adjust the firewall adjuster properly?

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Clutch was perfect up until today. I have the single-hook quadrant and made sure when I adjusted the Firewall Adjuster that there was 1/2" to 1" of free play at the top of the pedal.

Here's my theory: The thing is, like I said before, twice I had to tighten up the F.A. after driving for a while. I thought maybe it unscrewed loose, but realizing now, I think the cable was stretching with the heat (next to headers). Since the cable was stretching and contracting, that probably threw my adjustment out of wack and caused my clutch to only be partially engaged and thats probably how I was driving it all the way to NY today.

It's weird that I never smelled any hint of burning clutch (though I was driving on the highway with the windows up) but even when I came to a stop at the toll booth with the windows down I smelled nothing at all. And then when I had to stop in Manhattan to see what was up with the car I still smelled absolutely nothing. Didn't notice anything dripping from the car either...

v8only said:

get yourself a new clutch cable, route it right (under the k member near the oil filter) and get a new clutch. that's the odd thing about clutches, they can just go out when you thought they are ok. you didn't mention how old the clutch was, but imo, it sounded like it's time has just come. based on your descriptions, I think you tried enough adjustments to where that's likely not your issue.

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I just bought the car a few months ago, and according to the previous owner it has a FRPP Heavy Duty Clutch that was installed not too long ago. Never had any issues with the clutch until today, but I did have issues with the cable I think.

By the way, wouldn't even the most toasted clutch still keep a car from rolling when it is parked and in gear? My car rolls as if the car was in neutral. Can someone explain this to me? Maybe my clutch is disengaged somehow?