hot69z

im installing a 5spd in my 82 Auto camaro.
I bought a 5spd out of an 84 bellhouseing and all but i want to put in a cable clutch instead of the hydro unit, Im naturally guessing i need a different bellhouseing and fork. Im also guessing that i can use the 84's pedals. Does anyone have any advice???

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I've never heard of a cable clutch for our cars...doesn't mean there aren't any, but I gotta ask...why cable??

I have the original Z bar setup in my '83, but I'd like to upgrade to the hydraulic unit one of these days. That way I don't have to crawl under the car to adjust the clutch as it wears.

I would think any cable setup would have to be a custom made, and you'd still have to manually adjust the clutch manually just like my Z bar setup. So really, I don't see any advantage in trying to rig up a cable over a Z bar setup.

Maybe someone else can shed more light on this???

TheGreatJ

Thirdgens never had a cable setup, and it'd be difficult at best to fab one since cables work in the opposite direction of hydros and Z-bars (hydros and bars push...cables pull.)

I too would like to know....why cable? A hydraulic setup will operate more easily and smoothly, doesn't require constant adjustment, and you don't have to lube it to keep it from seizing. I just don't see the reasoning.

hot69z

2 main reasons....
1st there is nothing like the feel you get from a cable or Z bar clutch you can really feel out the pedal with it.
2nd I hate hydro units they don't release uniformly every time.

as for why I asked about a cable clutch system is because I have done alot of work on mustangs (personally dont care for the hunks of crap) and they use cable on the T5's. now that being said would i need to change my belhousing for the Z bar? or is the bellhouseing the same for the hydro unit???

Petes 84Z28

The bellhousings are different - the 84-up have the mount for the slave cylinder molded on, and the ball stud is in a different location.
To bolt up a T5 using the Z-bar linkage, you need to find an 83-only bellhousing, or buy a new one from Lakewood ($$$). The reason for 83 only is that it was the only year in which the T5 was offered with a mechanical linkage, and the T5 mounts at something like a 15 or 17° angle toward the driver, rather than straight across.
I switched from the mechanical to hydraulic setup on my 83 when I did the V6 to V8 swap a few years ago.

Pete

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Yet another reason a '83 can be a P.I.T.A ! I should know since I have a '83 Z28....Some parts are impossible to find. So you end up having to "upgrade" and it takes three times longer.

FWIW, I think my tranny mounts at the same angle (15 or 17&deg) like all the others....but the mount bracket is a bit different too. Mine is a 2 piece deal, with two round rubber isolators plus the square rubber mount.

I know the dealer still sold me new bushings for my linkage (Z bar) , and they still carry most of the other parts but they're not cheap!!

Petes 84Z28

Here's an 83 V8 T5 bellhousing...

Petes 84Z28

And here's an 84-92 V8 T5 bellhousing...
Note the mount for the slave cylinder, and the different location of the ball stud

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Thanks Petes 84Z28 !!!! I never seen one of the bellhousings for the hydraulic clutch before. Now I know what to look for! :hail:

hot69z

hey i have the 84 bellhouseing i need the 83 i also have all the hardware to go with it including the slave cylnder and the fork i would be very interested in trading.

Petes 84Z28

Sorry, man...neither of those is mine; I've just borrowed those pics...

hot69z

sorry i should of specified that for Confuzed1

jmd

iTrader: (4)

There is a cable bellhousing from a Monza or something that works. I think my buddy in NJ had one some time ago; dunno if he still does.

I don't know what it would take to fabricate the pedals for a cable install in your 82, hot69z but I have run the 84-92 hydraulic setup and the mechanical 83 bellhousing (with a/g-body linkage) & I preferred the 84-92 setup.

Good luck!

RB83L69

I swapped my 83 from the linkage to hydraulics. It's so much better, it isn't even like driving the same car. I'll never go back to linkage. It sucks in every possible way compared to hydraulic. More friction and binding and unevenness, all manner of possibilities for lost motion (bending the firewall, moving the motor rearward on the mounts), etc. etc.

hot69z

well i guess ill stick with the hydro unit for now my next question is does anyone sell a really good hydro unit? if im going to use it i want it to be stiff instead of the ****ty marshmellow feeling that most camaros that ive driven feel like.