My 82 Z28 has busted the (mechanical) clutch linkage for the umpteenth time! I'd like to go hydraulic, keeping my stock 4-speed and everything else the same. I have some machine shop services and welding at my disposal if needed.

Can I get by with just the pedal set, master/slave cylinders, and hydraulic line, or do I need to change bellhousing, transmission, and more?

Anyone seen an article or a retrofit kit available to convert an 82 from mechanical to hydraulic?

 

What keeps breaking with your setup? I have never had a problem with my linkage,I have strenghtened it but even before I had no problems with it.It could be binding,misadjusted,but I cant see it being not strong enough.Are your motor mounts good? If one is bad and the motor is flopping around that could add stress to the linkage causing it to break.

 

You name it. it's been busted! The bracket at the frame, the ball studs at both the frame and block, and the z-bar. This has been happening since the car was 2 years old (just out of warranty). At first I replaced, but these parts are not available anymore so I've been scavenging,welding, reinforcing, (and cussing).

It's interesting that they went to a hydraulic setup (in 84 I think).

I'm right at the 200,000 mile mark, and just want to keep it running. I had it Ziebarted when I got it, and it's clean and rust-free (plus fun to drive). I'd like to go hydraulic and end my misery.

 

I think the only way is to get some sort of aftermarket slave cylinder bracket. Do some checking around, I know they make one for Jeeps and older vehicles. You might be able to make that work. Sorry if I misled you in my email. I thought you had a 5 speed. I apologize. Actually, I have a template that I made to try to put a hydraulic clutch on my 4 speed. This was before i went with the T5. Maybe you could use something like that? Email me if you want a picture of it. Or email me your address and I'll send it to you. I don't have a use for it.

 

Doesn't matter whether it's a 4-speed or a 5-sped, the hydraulic-related parts will interchange. The clutch is the same.

You need the bell housing, the hydraulics (duh), and the COMPLETE pedal assembly including both pedals, the bracket, and the 2 little braces that hook the pivotg bolt to the MC (very important). Best to find a donor car in the boneyard; all you need is a V8 F car, 84-up, to strip it all from.

You'll have to mark and cut the hole for the master cylinder, which isn't too hard because it goes almost the same place as the hole the linkage goes through. You camn use the little gasket that comes with the MC as a template.

I did this swap on my 83; it's so much better I could hardly believe it. Do it right, and your car will be much more enjoyable to drive.

 

Just out of curiosity, when did they put a hydraulic clutch with the 4-speed? If you try to put a 4 speed on a 5 speed bellhousing, it'll be turned like the 5 speed. Wouldn't that interfere with the shifter operation? Of course, he could re-drill and tap the bellhousing, but would that work? Aftermarket is another idea, but the bellhousing from Lakewood is almost $300. It would probably be easier to just make a bracket and use the master and slave cylinders from a 5-speed.

 

They never put a hydraulic clutch in front of a 4-speed. They switched to 5-speeds in 83 and to hydraulic clutches in 84.

Your 4-speed, if it's the stock 82 model one, is turned just like a 5-speed. That has nothing to do with the trans model. What creates the need for that, is fairly simple. Think about the trans bolting up to the BH: since the BH is aluminum, it is reinforced behind the trans bolts. This means that the clutch fork has to go in the middle between 2 of the trans bolts. But if the trans was in the "normal" position, the clutch fork would go right through the driver's right foot because the tunnel is so tight to the trans. So the trans is rotated toward the driver's side to move those bolts around, so that the fork will be below the floor.

Doesn't matter whether it's a 4-speed or a 5-sped, the hydraulic-related parts will interchange. The clutch is the same. I don't know why people think there's something different about 4-speeds compared to 5-speeds: as long as they have the stock "rotated" tailshaft and shifter, and the torque arm mount like his 82 came with, everything bolts right up exactly the same.

 

Just a note: the pedals and hydraulics should be able to come from a V6 car also; the hydraulics are the same.

However... All the V8 83-92 bellhousings for the T5 in third gens are canted 18 or 19 degrees. Your options for a straight up hydraulic bellhousing are a Lakewood, or '88-ish (4+3 trans.) vette bellhousing.

plain82 - no, you can't redrill the 84-92 bellhousing; not enough meat where it matters.

RB83L69 - The 4 speed in 1982 might have had a moved fork, but the transmission was not canted 18 deg. GM did the "moved" fork on other cars too... But the canted 18 deg. bellhousings started in third gens in '83.

I went from hydraulic to mechanical in a g-body and I'm not that enamored of the hydraulic but I haven't driven the mech. much yet, either.

Matthew