I have an 84 Camaro with a 350 and 3 speed manual trans. I’ve been trying to get the clutch working and I’m all out of ideas. So far I’ve tried a new clutch kit, clutch fork, bell housing (old one was cracked) new motor mounts, (old ones were shot causing engine to sit crooked). I’ve had the transmission out three times now and I’ve double checked all the components each time.

The clutch pedal feels good now and shifts fine with the engine off but won’t go into gear with the engine running. I’m all out of ideas I don’t know what else could be wrong and I could use some help!

 

Hi Branderino , to put it simply (as I'm sure you already know) the only two possible causes for what you describe is either the clutch itself isn't disengaging , or the transmission's input shaft is binding in it's pilot bushing (or pilot bearing , whichever you have in your particular installation) .

If your 101% certain the clutch is disengaging , your next check has to be if the input shaft is very free to turn in it's bushing (bearing) and see where that leads to .

 

Okay how should I check that? Will I need to remove the pilot bushing?

 

It looks like you have a mechanical clutch linkage. Stupid question, but have you adjusted the linkage?

 

Of course it shifts fine because you don't even need a clutch with 0 rpm engine speed.

Have you raised the rear wheels in the air and turned by hand to test if the clutch is releasing and grabbing? Keep in mind you might have to wedge the other wheel in place depending on the type of differential you have.

 

Yes I have tried that and the wheels will not soon while I’m gear even with the pedal depressed.

 

Then the clutch pedal isn't pushing the clutch fingers far enough. What was your preload measurement, and how does that compare to spec from clutch manufacturer?

 

It’s a mechanical linkage and I have it adjusted to where there is just a small amount of play before pushing the fork.

 

The linkage in there definitely isn’t factory so maybe I need to modify it to get more throw to the clutch fork?? I thought about drilling a hole a little bit lower on the clutch pedal.

 

I'm not talking about how much slop before pushing the fork. I'm talking about where the throwout bearing sits relative to clutch fingers. The ONLY thing that matters is how the throwout bearing moves and interfaces with the clutch fingers, and the clutch manufacturer has specs for what's the right way and wrong way. Everything else is just supporting the role of the throwout bearing to do it's job.

 

Right now the throw out bearing is resting on the fingers but with no pressure.

 

Update: I found the problem. The clutch pedal was wallered out where the linkage attaches. This caused about 2 or 3 inches of slack at the base of the pedal.