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hydraulic clutch install question

Posted By: 8urvette

hydraulic clutch install question - 12/16/12 05:26 AM

has anyone installed or had installed the HYDRAMAX hydraulic clutch setup in their car?
I would really like some pics- mine is an a body, with proparts headers and nothing wants to fit, not even pretend to fit, there is interference issue with everything.

little help please.
Posted By: toddd

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/16/12 07:30 AM

Never heard of them, who makes the part?
Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/16/12 08:19 AM

mine says wilwood on it. i got it from american powertrain. any hydraulic conversions out there at all?????
Posted By: EchoSixMike

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/16/12 09:15 AM

Wilwood master cylinder?

I'm using stock pedals joined to a Wilwood MC with a threaded sleeve and fabbed bracket. McCleod hydraulic throwout bearing. There is some "massaging" required. What doesn't fit? S/F....Ken M
Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/17/12 05:38 AM

any pics of it?
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/17/12 07:15 AM

Are you trying to use a hydraulic throw out bearing or a stock type clutch fork actuated by a slave cylinder?
Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/18/12 07:00 AM

hydraulic throw out bearing. But i cant see who the stock throw of the clutch will be even close to the what my hydraulic master requires. The throw is like 5 inches stock, and i only need about 1 inch with the wilwood master... so i am curious how people have overcome this... but it seems nobody has even tried it.
Posted By: sshemi

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/18/12 08:45 AM

Do a search here and youll find some great pics and ideas.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/18/12 10:30 AM

You're not going to mate the master cylinder up to the same position on the pedal as the stock clutch linkage. You will go higher up. This means taking the pedal out of the car and drilling a new hole. You will have the option of relocating the clutch pedal position so while your foot is off the clutch you can have the clutch pedal flush with the brake pedal like new cars.

If you have power brakes I've seen the master cylinder hung two different ways. One is to make a bracket so the MC is under the dash. The other is to have it in the engine bay, underneath the brake booster, at an angle with the rod facing up. The stock brake booster is too big to put the clutch master beside the brake booster. If you have manual brakes or a non stock booster this may be a non-issue.
Posted By: Commando1

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/18/12 03:31 PM

Quote:

i cant see (how) the stock throw of the clutch will be even close to the what my hydraulic master requires. The throw is like 5 inches stock, and i only need about 1 inch with the wilwood master... so i am curious how people have overcome this... but it seems nobody has even tried it.


You're not understanding ratios.
In a fairly rough example of what you said, 5" of pedal travel should result in 1" of M/C travel.
It's not 1:1. It's simple high school sophomore geometry.

Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 04:21 AM

i never made it to geometry... LOL.
I know that it isn't a 1 to 1 ratio but it still seems that the 5 inches of travel will move my wilwood one over 1 inch. then over stroke it and cause damage to the T/O bearing. I guess its just time to rip into it and see if i can make something work.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 07:59 AM

The higher up you place the MC rod on the pedal, the less your MC will be pushed by your pedal's travel. Ratio increases as you get closer and closer to the pedal's fulcrum.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 08:23 AM

My 4 speed 1969 GTS Dart has a hydraulic clutch conversion kit that the former owner put in it, it has a hydraulic throw out bearing mounted on the input shaft as far as I can tell. I think he bought the kit from Keisler, it was expensive, near $500.00 I think several years back He is dead now so I can't ask him. Call Kiesler or E mail them and see if they still offer it, it is very small and compact and it works okay I haven't mess with it yet, I'm getting ready to swapped the two piece scatter sheild out for a stock bellhousing and put the stock mechanical clutch linkgae back in it The car is a real 383 H code 4 speed car so it is worth putting all the stock stuff back on it that I can There getting worth more and more every day
Posted By: Commando1

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 02:59 PM

Quote:

i never made it to geometry... LOL.


Sad...
Regardless, you need to go to this link before you start tinkering:

http://www.mcleodracing.com/info/?id=5262
Posted By: 70BIRD

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 03:34 PM

I bought this kit from American Powertrain 2 years ago for my 70 RR. I got it because I have a Lakewwod scatter shield and was having trouble getting my factory linkage to work well with the shield so I thought this would be a great way to go.

Worked o.k. at first but then winter came and parked car. When spring came hopped in and no clutch pedal at all. Looked under car and there was a big puddle of fluid under scatter shield and master cylinder was bone dry. Had a friend come over and filled everything up and bled multiple times but can't get a good pedal. Looked under car again a few days later and another big puddle of fluid.

When I get the courage up to work on this thing again I'm putting the factory bell housing back in and all of the stock linkage...I just want to drive this thing and have some fun with no problems!
Posted By: EV2CUDA

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 06:11 PM

I have an external slave for that very reason. If it leaks, I don't have to pull trans
Posted By: Blusmbl

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/19/12 06:33 PM

Quote:

I have an external slave for that very reason. If it leaks, I don't have to pull trans



+1. Unless you can get OEM quality stuff (like the hydraulic throwout on a T56 in a Mustang or similar) I'd stick with mechanical linkage or an external slave cylinder.
Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 05:41 AM

i wish i could have done stock linkage...

i splurged and bought all fancy hydraulic junk, thinking it would be best. but their install instructions leave something to be desired.

I have an A-body with 440 and victor heads, along with older modded proparts headers, and a lakewood bellhousing, i don't have much rom for anything. I am still trying to figure out where to even put my hydraulic Master.
Posted By: Commando1

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 02:58 PM

Quote:

i wish i could have done stock linkage...

i splurged and bought all fancy hydraulic junk, thinking it would be best. but their install instructions leave something to be desired.

I have an A-body with 440 and victor heads, along with older modded proparts headers, and a lakewood bellhousing, i don't have much rom for anything. I am still trying to figure out where to even put my hydraulic Master.



When I first went all hydraulic, I thought to myself WTH did I get myself into???

After a long sorting out process, a 1/2 dozen pulls on the transmission, countless conversations with others who have it (forget Customer Service - if it ain't a Chevy, they're clueless), and lots of trial and error, it works much better than the all-mechanical setup. I would do it again in a heartbeat now that I know what I'm doing, but it's not for the timid and it's CERTAINLY not Plug 'n Play despite what all the descriptions on the manufacturer's websites say.

If your all-mechanical setup is working fine, the changeover is then not worth it.
It's great if you're going from an automatic transmission to manual tranny, especially in oddball situations.
Posted By: 70BIRD

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 03:40 PM

Quote:

i wish i could have done stock linkage...

i splurged and bought all fancy hydraulic junk, thinking it would be best. but their install instructions leave something to be desired.

I have an A-body with 440 and victor heads, along with older modded proparts headers, and a lakewood bellhousing, i don't have much rom for anything. I am still trying to figure out where to even put my hydraulic Master.



I mounted my MC at the front right of car behind headlights and ran a braided line down frame rail to pedal. I know you have an A-body but I can send you pics if you want them, might help a little as I also have headers, lakewood housing, Indy heads, etc.
Posted By: DrCharles

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 07:00 PM

Quote:

I mounted my MC at the front right of car behind headlights and ran a braided line down frame rail to pedal.



I am confused
Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 07:29 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I mounted my MC at the front right of car behind headlights and ran a braided line down frame rail to pedal.



I am confused



That's one LOOONG pedal pushrod!!
Posted By: 70BIRD

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/20/12 09:39 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I mounted my MC at the front right of car behind headlights and ran a braided line down frame rail to pedal.



I am confused



That's one LOOONG pedal pushrod!!



Sorry, I am at work and typing fast! I just read what I posted and it doesn't even make sense to me! I meant the resovoir was mounted up by the headlights!
Posted By: 8urvette

Re: hydraulic clutch install question - 12/21/12 07:10 AM

i will try to take and post some pics tomorrow night... after i install a transmission into a customers bmw. So excited about this one
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