Well we started digging into the '83 Trans Am again today, and we just started ripping any and all of the mechanical clutch linkage out, only to find this...





If I'm not mistaken, this is the "Z-bar"...I'm really not sure what to do here. I'm at a complete loss. Can anyone help?

 

pickup another one? they are not that hard to find, IIRC

 

Oh they are a hard part to find, but luckily I brought it down to my dad's friend (guy I got the car from) and he said he could weld it, so he clamped it together to close the crack, then arc welded it shut. Then he welded the end of a bolt to one side and heated it up and bent it around the tube, across the first weld, and welded it to the tube for added strength. Hopefully he did a good enough job to hold out until I can afford to go hydraulic.

cracked tube:


welded/reinforced tube:


If this is indeed the fix we've been looking for, the car will be back on the road in no time!