Anyone ever change a clutch themselves?

Reg Kmet · Post by **Reg Kmet** » Wed Apr 11, 2001 5:04 pm

Hi guys, Im wonderin if anyone here has ever done a DIY clutch install? the one in the blackbird is slippin, time for a replacement!!

Phjorg · Post by **Phjorg** » Fri Apr 13, 2001 1:52 am

I think you're screwed dude... Mine went on me a couple months ago (it blew actually) and it's a huge repair. Takes the shop like 6 hours to do. You're looking at probably twice that if you can get the proper tools.

Cost a dam fortune!

Viperoni · Post by **Viperoni** » Fri Apr 13, 2001 8:49 am

Actually, in a RWD car it shouldn't be taht hard to do, but unless you really know what you're doing, and it doesn't sound like you do Reg, I'd probably leave it to a shop

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 1:09 am

Its fairly easy job to do in a RWD vehicle. Max time 2 hours no problem. Unhook the drive line coming out of the tranner take out the 6 bellhousing bolts get you a tranny jack or a floor jack and someone to balance the tranny will work. Don't forget to take any of the tranny mounts loose either. slide the tranny back with the jack under it and get it out from under the car. to get the pressure plate off on a chev i think there is only 6 3/8's bolts well that new its prolly friggin' metric though. A lot of people say to use a cluth alignment tool when bolting the new pressure plate back on but i've yet used one adn have never had any trouble with a clutch. replace the through out bearing clutch and pressure plate. reverse the process to put it back together. Before i'd even think the clutch was going i'd see if you could adjust it to get some clutch pedal back. Could just be something minor as that.

Reg Kmet · Post by **Reg Kmet** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 1:56 am

Gm uses the hydraulic clutch, and i know she's slippin, i mean i got 1 GOOD lauch out of it, layed a good strip too, but i tried a break stand and all i could smell was clutch UNGH! so yes, time for new one. queston tho, bo i put all 4 tires up on jack stands?

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 2:14 am

Yuck! I hate hydraulic clutches. Some you can tweak a little most of them you can't. My 72 Chevy had an all mechanical clutch in it. Was nice if it slipped you tweaked it till it gripped and you had the ammount of pedal you wanted. I've only changed clutchs in trucks and you don't gotta get those in the air!

I would just run the front tires up on some ramps or block up the front and start out that way. If it ain't high enough them try the rear but be careful. don't want a car falling on you. Clutches are pretty easy to do on RWD vehicles. My first one took about 4 hours to do fastest was 45 min. We blew it sky high in the mountains 4byin'! It was raining and cold so we busted our butts off getting it fixed. Was lucky and had another buddy up there to run into town and get a new clutch for it. I ended up putting a Turbo 350 in my truck. Got tired of shifting all the time. Truck is a lot faster now especially with the shift kit in the tranny and the Pontiac Power under the hood.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 7:39 am

Being an auto tech and having done this before many times, IMHO it's a royal pain in someones garage laying on the ground with hand tools. I've done it in my younger days but won't anymore as I'm spoiled by being able to use a shop for things like that anytime. It's easy on a hoist with a tranny jack, air tools and that's the only way I do it now.
I'd advise checking around and getting labor quotes as I doubt you'll have a good time doing it yourself, especially if you've never done it before.

vwkess · Post by **vwkess** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 9:19 am

Normally easy to do on a RWD car, but not that easy on a F-Body (not alot of room to work with). If you have a weekend free, it will most likely take both days to do it laying on your back. I'm spoiled like Evil, I wouldn't do it without a lift as it would be a royal pain in the ass. Heck, it's alot easier to change the clutch on most FWD cars than on that thing. Too bad you don't have a SAAB 900 (up to '93 anyway). Don't even have to raise the vehicle, just open the hood and everything is done right there. Could have it swapped out in 20 min.

Reg Kmet · Post by **Reg Kmet** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 6:59 pm

cool guys, hey anyone know what a replacement clutch pressure plate and release bearring woul dbe for the F bod?

Phjorg · Post by **Phjorg** » Sat Apr 14, 2001 7:13 pm

what?? dammit, I want a rear wheel drive car now, could have saved me some money

Hipnotic_Tranz · Post by **Hipnotic_Tranz** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 11:29 am

Phjorg - RWD suck in the winter though

I guess being able to do donuts makes up for it :lol

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 12:51 pm

HEHE FWD cars are just as much fun at RWD. Go backwards and grab the e-brake!

CaterpillarAssassin · Post by **CaterpillarAssassin** » Sun Apr 29, 2001 7:27 pm

Yeah I've pulled many donuts in a FWD car...just get moving and pull the e-brake...you'll spin...

Viperoni · Post by **Viperoni** » Sun Apr 29, 2001 7:37 pm

Cat, but what if you can't get moving

CaterpillarAssassin · Post by **CaterpillarAssassin** » Sun Apr 29, 2001 7:42 pm

Well if u got friends with you...there real good for pushing