i have a centerforce DF clutch set, and when i start the motor when its cold the clutch works fine...but when everyhitng is nice and warm...or hot the clutch goes away...like completly wont work....i know its all assembled correctly becasue it works when its all cold...

i drove it home yesterday after i let it get all nice and chilly and sitting at a light i start seeing all this smoke...i get home and look under the car and theres fluid leaking from right under the accuator for the clutch fork....i have long tube headers and there right below the accuator and the oil drips on them and smokes like im pouring oil on the primaries....


i opend the resevoir and the fluid was overfilled and was quite warm...


im going to replace the entire slave because its 15 years old and well its 15 years old....i tried to put that peice on the bellhousing that covers the accuator but it wouldnt fir with the headers....what should i use so this doesnt happen again?

 

You need to find something that is a good thermal protector for the slave cylinder. There are companys that produce spark plug protectors that are thermal wraps, that I used to slip over my slave cylinder for exactly that reason. I can't remember the name of the company, but there are quite a few. If you don't get some kind of thermal boundary in there, your new slave will do the same thing. I hope this helped.

Troy
So Cal

 

i had the same problem but i use thermotech(header wrap)on the down tube closest to the slave cyl.......big difference i also used the castrol synthetic brake fluid.........

 

I have heddman long tubes, and the collecter itslef is directly under the slave...i wrap the collector and the slave in some wrap..

 

Your clutch problem is caused by the fluid boiling. When it boils is creates vapor pockets, which displace the fluid. That's why it looks overfilled (I bet if you let it cool down it will be down to normal levels or maybe low.) These pockets are also compressible...the fluid is not. That makes the hydros spongy or unresponsive. Have you ever flushed the clutch hydros out? Brake fluid (which is what most people use for hydro clutches) will absorb moisture over the years which MAJORLY lowers the boiling point of the fluid. Since it's leaking, you might as well just change the slave, but in the future, keeping the fluid changed every couple years can help prevent this problem, but like everyone else said....a thermal barrier will help IMMENSELY.


Edit: You can use the LT1 hydraulics...they'll bolt right up. The pressure line is braided stainless, and a bit longer so you can route it away from the headers. You can get the whole assembly (master, slave, and reservoir) new from GM full of fluid and pre-bled for just a little over $100.

 

Hey guys not to change the subject or highjack this post, but I thought you couldn;t unse longtubes with a stick car?? does any1 have any pics? thanks

 

From what I hear it takes some clearancing, but can be done. I'm running shorties with my T56 so I don't know.

 

Mine bolted right up..i didnt have to clearence anything...although its pretty tight under there

 

the only ones I could buy for my 82 4 -speed Z were hooker super comps. Hedman and everyone else said they didn't make them
Steve

 

thats becasue you have mechanical clutch linkage...84 IIRC started with hydrualic linkage

 

so you are saying that you can only use long tubes or short tubes with mechanical linkage?

 

no no i mean that most companies dont make long tubes for F-bodies with mechanical linkage...there just isnt enough room...

 

Room or demand.

 

so what you are saying is there might be a possibility that they might work and they might not.

 

That's how some aftermarket stuff works. They just don't bother test fitting some stuff before producing it.

Example: Edelbrock & Hooker both make emissions legal headers for my 87. Edelbrocks work with the mechanical linkage from a 78-81, Hookers don't. Wouldn't have cost Hooker anything more to make it work; they just didn't test it, and the O2 sensor is totally in the way. Otherwise, things are cool.

So on an 82-83, you're on your own.

 

ok thanks. i will try to see if I can get something to work this winter when it is parked. If they work I will let you all know.