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Converting to Hydraulic clutch on a Fox

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mustang5L5
  • Start date Start date Mar 25, 2006

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Mar 25, 2006
#1
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #1
I'm looking for any info on converting a Mustang's cable setup over to a hydraulic setup. Reason being surgery from a knee injury has made my knee weak. (sad that i'm saying this at 25 y/o) I do not want to stop driving 5-spd. My '03 GT's clutch is already soft as butter so it doesn't bother me but every Fox i have ever driven has had a stiff clutch in comparision to the newer cars. I'm converting my Fox to a t-5. I plan on using a King Cobra clutch which offers softer pedal, but still would like to convert to hydraulic.

I'f found some kits but they are for classic stangs using t-5's. I can use the slave cylinder but need a master cylinder setup for it. Unsure if the classic kit will bolt up to a fox clutch pedal assembly.

Classic clutch kits

You can purchase the slave setup separately. I know the Fox t-bird turbo coupe came with a hydraulic setup. Could i adapt the master cylinder setup from that to my Fox and use this slave setup or will i need the t-bird slave setup? The slave kit goes for $260 and the instructions say it will require a 3/4 master cylinder.

 

Modular2v

Founding Member
Jun 30, 2002
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oklahoma
Mar 25, 2006
#2
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #2
okay......WHY? the reason your pedal feels hard is because you have the stock clutch/ quadrant and no adjuster.....Converting it to a slave would be a waste of time and money and a huge headache. Not to mention it would be twice as hard to work on and i bet you would go through slave cylinders faster than i did on my camaro
 

Tonys96Cobra

professional deer "mounter"
Oct 28, 2005
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Mar 25, 2006
#3
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #3
I understand that its cuz of your bad knee, but hydraulics are a pain in the arse. There has got to be a way to get a softer cable clutch.
 
J

jstang209

20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 3, 2004
640
2
18
Stockton 209
Mar 25, 2006
#4
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #4
i dont have the stock cable and quadrant and yet my pedal is still hard to push. Its improved from wat it was when it was stock but its still hard, compared to a hydraulic setup
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
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Massachusetts
Mar 25, 2006
#5
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #5
I don't see what the big deal is? 99% of all new cars these days use hydraulic clutches including the new Mustang. I love how light they feel. I know cable clutches offer better feel when releasing, but i am doing this due to a bad knee. I've driven many 5.0's some with aftermarket quadrants and cables and such. All are still pretty stiff in comparision to a hydraulic setup or even my '03 GT. EVery time a friend with a fox hops in my car they remark on how soft the clutch is in that car compared to their fox. I know they are a more complicated system but that doesn't really matter to me nor does the chance it might break because the car is not a daily driver

If i can adapt a t-bird turbo coupe assembly easily then i think i will be in the game. I've already found someone who has done the swap and emailed them. I do like the JMC slave cylinder, but i need a master cylinder to go along with it. Does anyone know what size MC the Turbo coupe came with?
 

Modular2v

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oklahoma
Mar 25, 2006
#6
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #6
my hyd clutch in my f 250 is ANYTHING but easy to push down, it is the hardest clutch to push i have ever driven including my dads 8 second 67 mustang
 

ninety15.0

New Member
Mar 10, 2004
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Mar 25, 2006
#7
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #7
I have heard of people making this swap in the past and seems to be a decent idea to help you with your knee problem. I have also heard great things about the soft pedal of the KC clutch. maybe jump on a turbo coupe forum and ask around they might have a little more info on the slave cylinder question. good luck man
 

4000 Pounds of Iron

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Nov 6, 1999
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Nashville, TN
Mar 25, 2006
#8
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #8
There are hydraulc throwout bearings available for the T5 if you don't want the expense or complexity of that setup. You'll have to drop the tranny though.

4k#Fe
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
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58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Mar 25, 2006
#9
  • Mar 25, 2006
  • #9
I bet you already thought about this but I'll say it. Why don't you just go to an automatic and beef it up and put in a manual valve body.
 

4000 Pounds of Iron

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Mar 26, 2006
#10
  • Mar 26, 2006
  • #10
why don't you just go to an automatic and beef it up and put in a manual valve body
Click to expand...

Because he's not a sissy.

4k#Fe
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
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Mar 26, 2006
#11
  • Mar 26, 2006
  • #11
Roland69 said:
I bet you already thought about this but I'll say it. Why don't you just go to an automatic and beef it up and put in a manual valve body.
Click to expand...


Nah, nothing beats driving 5-spd.


My knee isn't that bad, but i just want to help it anyway i can.
 
J

Jkube2

New Member
Mar 23, 2006
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Mar 26, 2006
#12
  • Mar 26, 2006
  • #12
I just finished installing a hyd clutch setup in my 69. I used a 7/8 slave and 3/4 master cyl from willwood. I used a steel braided line from Earls to connect the two. I have a stiffer than stock Ram clutch 11 inch . If you can fabricate a bracket for the slave, it should work. This setup from summit was less than $200 from summit as opposed to the $350 or more from some of the other guys. I shattered my heel last year so my foot is held together with a plate. Just had to be the clutch foot. Hope it helps.
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
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Mar 26, 2006
#13
  • Mar 26, 2006
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Do a search on Corral,I`m pretty sure there was a detailed thread I saw on there a while back.
 

89Notch

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Mar 26, 2006
#14
  • Mar 26, 2006
  • #14
My dad has a king cobra in his 94 with a stock quadrant and it is very stiff

I have a centreforce with a steeda quadrant in my 89 and it is real soft

Maybe you could sell your car and get a camaro if you're set on hydraulic clutches?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,255
17,939
224
Massachusetts
Mar 26, 2006
#15
  • Mar 26, 2006
  • #15
Ok found some more info so i figure i add it to the thread.


The Turbo Coupe does use a 3/4" MC bore, so that means it would be compatible with the JMC slave setup.

That means all you would need is a TC pedal assembly with Master cylinder and related hardware, the JMC Slave setup pictured above (they also have kits for the t-3550 and t-56) and a stainless steel line to run between them.

This is the TC hydraulic clutch setup


If you want a new MC, this site sells em for $39
https://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/mfr,WAGNER,Clutch,1996,Clutch+Master+Cylinder

It seems pretty straightforward. I'm gonna start gathering the pedal parts. This will be a while as i don't plan on having the car driving til late summer.
 
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