Z-Bar Length?

Thanks for the fast reply.

1970 Road Runner, 383.

Just installed new ball studs and bushings last weekend, but seems like the Z-bar length is not long enough for the space between the ball studs.

The Z-bar barely covers the right ball.

This causes the clutch linkage rod to be at an angle between the Z-bar and the throwout bearing fork.

Does that make sense?

Any help you can provide is appreciated.

Tube length should be 9" long with the bent arm welded approx 7 5/8" from the frame end. What bellhousing are you using and did you buy a new adjuster rod? Sounds like you have the wrong rod.

70 b body big block = 9 1/8".....

I need some opinions - is the clutch adjustment rod at too much of an angle in this picture?

I measured my Z-bar - it's about 9 1/16".

I was just hoping that after I installed the new nylon bushings on the 2 ball studs that the adjuster rod would be straight between the Z-bar and the pivot fork.

This is how it looks from the top - left side showing.

Did you check the studs for proper placement?

Pictures of the different z-bars.

Whoa. Musta dozed off there for a few minutes/days…

Thanks for the picture of the different Z-bars.

Looks like I have the correct one – the bottom one in the pic.

Also, yes – I triple-checked that I have the right pivot ball studs, and the long one is installed on the bell housing, short one on the left side.

I figger that if the clutch linkage rod is NOT supposed to be at an angle like in my picture above, then either:

1. The clutch pivot fork is a little short, or

2. I should have a different bell housing – one that would have the pivot ball mounting boss a half-inch or so further inboard. But then the ball would barely be inserted into the Z-bar.

Or, maybe everything is correct and the rod is supposed to be at an angle.

Here's another picture, showing how far the right side ball stud is inserted into the Z-bar, and to me it looks about right.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Diggin one outta the past..............just wondering if there was a fix for this? My fork adjust threaded rod is at a bit of an angle as well....is this ok or should it be more straight?
thanks!!

here is a better pic...........

Is it possible that you've got the wrong fork? I've only worked with small block 4 speed setups, but I have a box full of spare parts and there's at least two different lengths of forks in there.

Publicbottle - I should have posted how I fixed it. Can't believe it's been a year and a half.

A couple of days after my last post (July 2010) I went to the Carlisle Chrysler show/swap meet and walked up to the Brewer's Performance booth.

I showed Dan Brewer the adjustment rod I was using and started to explain the problem, but he saw right away that I had the wrong rod.

He put the correct rod on the counter and it had an angle (about 15-20 degrees) right after the end that connects to the Z-bar. Problem solved.

I don't think that will help you though - it looks to me from your pictures that the angle you are dealing with is more like 30 degrees. Wish I had some suggestions for you, but maybe Evil Monkey has the solution with the length of the fork. Also, maybe Dan will see this post, or you could give them a call.

http://www.brewersperformance.com/



Thanks again, Dan!


P.S. - Publicbottle - I like that avatar. I'm a T. Rex fan from way back.