LT1 and a T56 in a 55 Chevy

I did get a few hours to work on that clutch setup some more...
Finally located a clevis the right size to attach to a 3/8" rod and the clutch pedal...
Ran down about 3" of 3/8" fine thread so I'll have lots of adjustment available...
55HTclutch65s_Apr2019.JPG


Looks good to me, will add another hex nut weded to the rod below the thread for a wrench...
55HTclutch66s_Apr2019.JPG


Cut and welded an offset from 1/4" scrap to set the "push" point 2-3/4" down
from the pedal pivot, and 2-1/4" over to the left to center on the clutch MC...
55HTclutch68s_Apr2019.JPG

Now I need to cut the rod to the correct length and round off the end to match the MC piston...


And I need to learn how to use that bore scope I just bought to check clutch gap, and figure out just where I want to put the access holes...
 
Been busy on other projects, but did get some work done on the brakes and the hydraulic clutch setup, here's a few pix:

Got the clutch pedal, clutch mc pushrod dialed in pretty well, now to see how well it really will work with this mc to activate the clutch....
55HTclutch69s_Apr2019.JPG


The two bolts holding the offset for the pushrod on the clutch pedal was rubbing on the steering column, so I cut the heads off and welded the bolts in place, works just fine....
Also the upper hole centers the pushrod on the mc piston pretty well, so using that one...
55HTclutch72s_Apr2019.JPG


Had to find some an-3 braided brake hose and fittings to extend the short piece I had on the slave cylinder. It ended up too long, so shortened it and changed the 90 at the mc to a 45....
55HTclutch73s_May2019.JPG


Decided that before I go mounting the clutch mc in place I'd better get the brake lines installed at that mc...
55HTclutch07s_Jan2019.JPG


The rear outlet on the proportioning valve had a weird, large thread, but one of my local auto supply houses was able to find a fitting that matched it....
55HTbrakes25s_May2019.JPG


Bought a few 3/16" by 60" hard lines and started fitting them to the chassis, shortening and reflaring with a double flare where necessary...
55HTbrakes26s_May2019.JPG


Attached the brake lines to the frame using pieces of rubber hose and clamps...
55HTbrakes39s_May2019.JPG


The rubber hoses at the brakes are 1980 Camaro, fit perfectly, after I moved the calipers from the rear mounting holes of the spindle mount to the front...
I think they'll be fine that way....
55HTbrakes38s_May2019.JPG


The passenger's side...
55HTbrakes36s_May2019.JPG


I still need to add some more mounting points using the rubber hose and clamps, and still need to put the rear axle hose in, again using one for a 1980 Camaro....

-Willy

More pix here
 
I love the great clear photo quality,
it makes keeping up with what your doing much easier
 
I love having to think these things through, discuss it over a couple beers with my buddies,
it's taking a lot longer than I thought,and of course I'm still driving the '55 gasser,
the '55 4x4 truck, and the '58 pro street truck daily, all Chevy, of course !!
 
I shoulda took a pix of the 55 4x4 truck, 455 olds powered, I better start a new thread...
Got new front tires for the 55 ht, the old ones were developing crack's between the treads...
But also the 58 truck needed the red steelies w baby moons, so needed new rubber for that....
Am trading old Sportsman Pro's for Sportsman S/R 's. big fatso's, will post pix....
Ya'all smile, it fools the enemy....
 
2Loose said:
I shoulda took a pix of the 55 4x4 truck, 455 olds powered, I better start a new thread...
Got new front tires for the 55 ht, the old ones were developing crack's between the treads...
But also the 58 truck needed the red steelies w baby moons, so needed new rubber for that....
Am trading old Sportsman Pro's for Sportsman S/R 's. big fatso's, will post pix....
Ya'all smile, it fools the enemy....
Click to expand...
We are the only ones that get excited about Olds Super Rocket 425 V8 Power Willy!
The 1963 Gp with its 425 V8 is a Hero car on the Olds V8 Group on Facebook.
I showed the guys Nationwide my Videos Street Racing It !

Pontiac V8 Full Drag Is even more powerful!
 
The blown Olds '67 425 motor in my '55 'gasser', seems to be just plain bulletproof,
and is hard on trannies (stick shift, of course!), The first time I pulled that motor apart,
and saw that forged crank, I think I fell in love !! My Dad was a "true blue" Olds enthusiast
all his life, starting with the '49 Olds V8. One of my best buddies over here is just as
into the Ponchos, has a rather large shop full of all kinds of Ponchos, all high performance
from the 60's and 70's. We love to get together and argue the various merits of the two
brands. Always fun!
 
the first time I built a 392 chrysler hemi, and a 426 hemi ,
I though,
damn I love the simplicity and obvious excellent engineering...
I wish the engines and parts were much more plentiful,
and easy to locate at a decent price.
looking over a chrysler hemi,
if you have a strong engineering back-ground..
is a bit like looking at the playboy fold out center poster,
you just instantly think,
.
.

https://thecaraficionada.com/history-chryslers-hemi-engine/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...e-early-hemi-my-favorite-engine.491/#post-607
eric_sefi392hemi202.jpg

DAMN that looks like it would be a lot of fun,
too get your hands on that,
to do everything you dream about doing,
and you just know its going to exceed your expectations,
if you treat it nice,
its something to play with!
but like the girl in the fold out you know its going to be expensive!
 
Last edited:
I'd suggest a couple of gussets on that bracket too.
Them maybe find a Hemi for it LOL!
Great work.
Hope the joking is accepted well.
 
Visiting family, house and yard projects, have slowed down
my progress on the '55, but did get some work done
on the brakes and clutch systems...

Still getting way too many leaks, have had to pull off
just about every one of these steel brake lines and
redo the flares, and try different connectors....
These are various length steel brake lines from NAPA,
but I am getting leaks from just about every one
of their flared ends, it's been a nightmare !!

I've had to reflare and refit every connection at the MC
and proportioning valve....
55HTbrakes43s_June2019.JPG


55HTbrakes32s_May2019.JPG


Front line from the proportioning valve down to a tee,
then off to both front calipers, used hoses for an '80 Camaro,
they fit nicely...
55HTbrakes44s_June2019.JPG


Got the front brakes hooked up and bled, looks good...
55HTbrakes36s_May2019.JPG


Ran two 60" lines along the frame to the rear, had to cut and fit
a short piece in the middle to get it exact...
55HTbrakes45s_June2019.JPG


55HTbrakes46s_June2019.JPG


Got it bled and the pedal feels good, but still chasing a couple of leaks !!

Got the hydraulic clutch bled and working, but the pedal feel is much
heavier than I think it should be, need to check that out...

55HTclutch76s_June2019.JPG


Lots more pix HERE and HERE

More later....
Willy
 
Spray light oil on the Steel fittings Willy.
Like WD40.
Wait 30 seconds.
Take long wrenches like aviation style.
Crank them tight 40-50 ft/lbs if possible.
Snap On Wrenches fit best on Brake line fittings and Race AN fittings.
 
Spray light oil on the Steel fittings Willy.
Like WD40.
Wait 30 seconds.
Take long wrenches like aviation style.
Crank them tight 40-50 ft/lbs if possible.
Snap On Wrenches fit best on Brake line fittings and Race AN fittings.
 
Love them Snap On line wrenches also Maniac. Cant count the # of them Clevis yokes I threw out.I prefer the Quick Connects when I change a slack adjuster or 30/30 Maxie
 
Yeah, I dug out my old flare wrenches that I've had forever, got 'em from my Dad...
Back off a 1/4 turn and retighten, do it again, and again, got 'em a little tighter every time,
now to let 'em set overnight and go back and see if any wetness....
If that looks good....
Then gotta put pressure on 'em overnight and see if any wetness....

A couple of my buddies tried my clutch pedal and said it seemed ok to them, to me it feels a bit heavy, but they've convinced me to drive it awhile and see how it is.
 
Well Willy the Hyd Clutch will feel different compared to the Norm Z bar set up. Took me awhile to get use to it in my 93 Vette compared to the Z bar in my old 68 & 78..Dont know the feel since my 93 is hard plumed compared to the ss flex your using. I imagine a how many ft lbs to the clutch fork would determine the outcome when the pedal is depressed. Dont know if the inside diameter of your flex has anything to do with it but it might.I would have a friend look at the flex & see if it moving around when ya push the clutch pedal to the floor. Ya cant tell if the nepreen or whatever is expanding under the ss cover either,I imagine its some off shore cut the price crap.
 
It's interesting that the hose connected to the slave cylinder out of the original '93 Z28 is this ss braided hose, that's what they used back then. I thought about fabbing a hard line, but the connection at the slave cylinder is very unusual, didn't want to get involved in trying to hook that end up with hard line. It just seems like a heavy pedal, my over all ratio using the pedal ratio and the MC to slave ratio, is 5.5 to one, so if I'm putting 40 lbs on the pedal, there should be 220 lbs applied at the slave. I'll try to find a way to actually measure the force I'm putting on the pedal. I could try to plumb in a tee on the hose and put a gage in to measure the psi in the line.....
 
Got it, Tat, thanks for the lead...

Dug out my valve spring compression gage....

55HTclutch78s_June2019.JPG


....And used it to press against the clutch pedal,
it's running between 35 and 45 lbs pressure, so I'll use 40 average,
with this system I designed the mechanical leverage factor
is 5.5 to 1, so with 40 lbs at the pedal I'm putting 220 lbs
on the clutch release lever at the slave cylinder...
For this aftermarket '93 LT1 T56 clutch setup I
don know if that is excessive or not. It sure feels like
a lot though....

55HTclutch77s_June2019.JPG


But I've decided to just leave it and drive it this way and see how it feels...
I still need to setup an adjustable "stop" and install the over-center return
spring on the clutch pedal, and then see how that feels....
More later,
Willy
 
It might be friction on pedal depress load your feeling.
Might help to install a Heim Aurora Rod End onto the end of the Clutch master cylinder pushrod.
Just one of things you have to try or not Willy.
 
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