DeTomaso Mailing List: March 1997, Message #98
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>To: nobbie@concentric.net (Nobbie) >From: pantera@pobox.com (David Doddek) >Subject: Re: Clutch Idiot >Cc: >Bcc: >X-Attachments: > > > >Nobbie, > >Even though yoiu have a hydraulic clutch, you do not have the continuous contact throwout bearing unless you have the modified internal hydraulic slave cylinder. If you have the external slave cylinder( the little cylinder actuating a lever on the passenger side of the bellhousing), then you will need to adjust it acording to the spec on the manual. You have to have some free play on the linkage. There is a little screw that adjusts the return position of the linkage located on the slave cylinder bracket. There should also be a spring there to pull the lever back toward the slave cylinder to hold the throwout bearing off of the pressure plate fingers. > >It is possible that you need a clutch as you friend suggests. However, unless I was going to make some serious engine mods and/or race, I would just stick with the stock clutch and pressure plate. They will handle 500HP. > >The way the clutch pedal with the effort reduction should feel is that it should feel heavy for most of the way down, and then get easier as the pedal approaches the floor. It was a set up not to make the pedal easier to push, but make it less tireing to hold in at stoplights. It is characterized by a small "T" shaped piece between the clutch pedal and the master cylinder push rod. In other words, the master cylinder does not just attatch to the pedal like the brake pedal does. See the picture in the orange parts manual page 2 in section 70. > >Hope this helps. > > >>Okay Gang, >> >>Please bear with me. I'm not really up on clutch terminology so what >>follows is my best recall of what two different people told me. >> >>My buddy, who's owned a 72 Pantera and did extensive mechanical resto work >>on it test drove my new Pantera. He said everything was cool except for the >>clutch. He thought it felt funny. I told him it had a clutch effort >>reduction system installed. He said he couldn't see where, that everything >>looked stock. >> >>He also said (here's where I get lost) that "something-whatever" was >>resting right on the "something-fingers." And that put it in constant >>contact with some sort of plate. Which wasn't good and meant the "Throwout >>Bearings" would get fried. He also looked through the inspection hole on >>the ZF and said the "pads" were really thin and may be close to the bolts. >>Aaack! >> >>He recommended a Centerforce dual-friction, dual plate clutch job. I called >>Mike Cook and he said he could fix me up with his custom set for around >>$670, including drilling out the plate and having it resurfaced. He said >>for street use, though, I shouldn't use a dual plate clutch. Okay. >> >>Then I called Scott Drnek at Virtuoso Performance, you know him, the Safety >>Marshall at several POCA track events who sold me the car. >> >>He told me that it's a hydraulic clutch, and my friend was thinking of a >>mechanical clutch as found in Mustangs. The whatever thingy is supposed to >>be touching that other thingy and the plate is always to be kept spinning >>so there is no slippage. >>He said that the clutch reduction system is a linkage system underneath the >>dash, in between the pedal and connection system. He says this is the >>system they use in race cars and such. Scott also say that if I switch to a >>Centerforce clutch I'll actually increase clutch pedal effort by 20 to 40 >>percent. He also said that I shouldn't have to do any clutch work for >>another 15 or 16 thousand miles. He told me not to waste my money. >> >>Mike Drew and Larry Stock checked it out just after I picked up the car. >>Mike felt the clutch and thought it felt pretty good. Larry checked out the >>clearance of the plate from the flywheel? and said it was good and clear. >> >>What am I to do? My friend is a hell of a mechanic. He rebuilt/modified his >>Bugeye Sprite, Sunbeam Tiger, Moto Guzzi Le Mans, and 72 Pantera by >>himself. I respect his ability to do such things. Could he be wrong? >> >>Why would Scott Drnek have any reason to give me a line of BS? Other than >>having the depress the clutch all the way to the floor to go into first or >>reverse, the clutch seems to work great. As I get acclimated to the car's >>particular ergonomics, it seems to be getting easier. You have to realize >>that the only manually shifting that I've done since 1988 has been only on >>motorcycles. Everything else was with big luxo barges with automatics. >> >>I remember a thread earlier here about clutch reduction systems. Any thoughts? >> >>I don't mind spending the bucks if it's the right way to go. >> >>Nobbie #3766 >> >> >> >> > David Doddek pantera@pobox.com 217-422-3722 69 EFI Fairlane, 89 T-bird SC, 74 Twin turbo NOS EFI Pantera (I like to go fast)