I have a 1982 Z28 the only damn year that came with Mechaniclal linkage. It has a 4 speed Saginaw Transmission. Seeing Zbars are just about gone and hard to find. I was going to have it changed to hydrolic. The shop was going to install a American Powertrain kit for it as adverticed for this transmission. What we found out, it was not a fit for the brake clutch pedal asymebly. Is there any one with a 1982 Camaro or Firebird who has done this run into this problem and what did they do to pre fab and make it work. Step by Step as what to do. Also, what would Hydro Clutch did they us and parts invovled, What would I need and parts, say do I need a new bell housing and what kind and model. Friom what I understand, I guess I have to get a 1984 brake and clutch pedal asyembly and what has to been done to make if fit right on the fire wall and connecting it to the clutch pedal to the hydro. Is the stock a option, if it could be purchased some how for this ? (ALSO) ANY IDEAS AS HOW TO STRENGHTEN THE EXTRA ZBAR AND 3 BRAKETS ON THE FRAME WITH ADDED WELDS ? I live in Buffalo NY and wonder anyone near me has done this, Love to get to talk to or messaging email about what they did and pass it on to the guys where going to do it. Got the American Powertrain kit and even they where not sure if this would work with what I have with My Camaro. ( oh got it new and did some asyembly work on it at the Chevy Rear Axel Plant here in Bufffalo NY.

 

No actually, 83 came with that too. I swapped my 83 L69/T-5 to hydraulic in about 86. Then got about a 96 LT1 T-56 in 98 or so and finally swapped it in in about 04 or so. Sorry for the foggy memory; after all you know what THEY say: I heard your memory is the 2nd thing you're supposed to lose as you age, but I forgot what the 1st one was supposed to be.

Anyway:

Problem with 82 is, the 4-speed is installed "straight up" like most other cars, while 83 up have it rotated about 18° to the driver's side. Which means you can't use any stock bell housing I've ever seen for it.

I'm not familiar with the kit you speak of. I'd be interested in seeing a pic.

Probably your best option would be a hydraulic throwout bearing. You can most likely use a stock 84-up Camaro/Firebird pedal assy and master cyl, but hook it up to the hyd TOB with its integral slave cyl. I've never had to do it but I'm almost positive there are parts out there to make it work. In fact a 98-02 SC might be all you need. I'm pretty sure there are aftermarket ones such as Tick if not. You'd need to enlarge the hole in the firewall the link goes through now, and add the 2 holes for the bolts. The gasket for the SC makes a great template, it's really eeeeeezzzzy with that. Your existing pedals will not work. When you get your 84-up pedals, be sure they include the 2 little braces that connect the pedal pivot bolt to the MC & firewall. 4th gen pedals will also work, but they also include the gas pedal; you'll have to either adapt the 4th gen gas pedal setup (no idea how hard that is) or just cut that part of the bracket off and use your existing gas pedal. Either the 3rd gen or 4th gen pedals are a bolt-in to your car other than that.

 

I put the American powertrain hydramax in my 82. It worked awesome. I swapped the pedals from an 84-up and elongated the hole in the fire wall to fit the master cylinder. I swapped to a t56 at the same time but you could make it work w the 4 speed pretty easily.

I have a z bar/all the linkage parts if you wanna just fix it. They're in great shape. That said, the hydraulic setup is great. Any questions you have let me know.

 

I think this will work with minimal mods. You can likely use your stock bell. The trans it's made for has a similar front to a 4 speed. I'd double check all of it but it should work. I used the version for the t56.

 

Hey thanks for the reply, The guys who where going to do the install, had to send back the other American Powertrain kit for a Sag. 4 Speed. Also, the found that my Clutch and Brake pedals where not a match and they did contact American P. and they where not sure it would work. Getting info from others helps what they did and we where not sure even if the 1984 Pedals would work. So they boxed it up and sending it back and American P. is good about it and getting my money back. Was driving back from the mall, put the Clutch Pedal and it took a *******. Got in home , and flat beded it to there shop. So, do not know what they will find with the zbar and those brackets on the sub frame. So, you say you have a extra zbar and to you have the 3 mounting brakets also ? I could use a back up since these ( zbar/ and the 3 that go together on the subframe.) no longer can be found. Ok, How much do you want from them including shipping ? And how about you want to me to pay for them ? Here is my email address, tomflorkowski@aol.com phone 716-894-8681 I live in the Buffalo New York area, Tom Florkowski 105 Colton Steet, Buffalo New York 14206. Oh did you did the install yourself or had some one do it for you ? Disbite the expense, I was go to have this done, but, everyone involved kind up wondering if this was going to be a frankenstine monster set up, lol. It anything, down the road , it be good to have these guys talk on phone or something as what you did since any info or questions you could reply person to person. HEY THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. Tom

 

I did the install myself. It was pretty easy. The master cylinder will bolt right in to the firewall w minimal mods and 84 up clutch pedal w no mods. The hydraulic line is standard 3an line/fittings so you can use numerous hydraulic release bearings. The hydramax ones they make will work w your 4 speed. It's not hard to do. I even used a speed bleeder to bleed it all alone and fast. The whole thing was pretty easy just time consuming. I'm sure you can get it to work with minimal issues.

I'll look for the parts later and let you know. I'm pretty sure I have all of it.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, I AM SURE DOWN THE ROAD ALL INFO I GET WILL HELP OUT MAKING THE TRANSITION DOWN THE ROAD FROM MECHANICAL TO HYDRALIC

 

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, DOWN THE ROAD IF I GO HYDRO. IT WILL HELP MY INSTALLER AND NOW I KNOW AND HIM TO, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE IT WORK. HOPE I STILL GOT THAT ZBAR AND LINKAGE AROUND THERE. IF YOU DO, LET ME KNOW AND WORK OUT SOMETHING, DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE AS TO WHERE I LIVE AND ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER ? I CAN PASS THAT ON TO YOU AND WORK ON PRICING AND SHIPPING COST. WISH I COULD MEET YOU, YOU SURE HELPED A LOT AND WISH WE KNEW THIS, YOUR A REALLY A GREAT GUY. TOM

 

This is what I got, I'd do it $200 for all of it shipped. I have the pedal assembly as well, if you want pics of that let me know. These parts have 2-3000 miles on them. I got them in 1997 from the dealer when I swapped one of my 82s to a stick. I lost a couple cotter pins but that's it. It's complete and in great shape otherwise.

 

Looks OK to me, $200 sound fair and seeing they are worth the price of 3rd Gen gold nice to find one. OK, lets do this, let me mail a check to you first, for $200 dollars as to making out to you, when you get it in the mail, then you can send this to me. I want to do it this way because it is the right way to do this, and I trust you on your end. Here is my email address to provide your mailing address. tomflorkowski@aol.com my phone is 716-894-8681 .
Tom Florkowski
105 Colton Street
Buffalo , Ny 14206 Just need your info and provided ways to contact me. If you ever want to send some pics of your set up, love to see them and did make some copies of the info I got for me and the guy working on my 82 Camaro. Hey any ideas on how to shore up and strengthen those 3 parts on the sub frame ? Wonder if just welding them all together make them a lot stronger. Thanks again for your time and help. Tom

 

I sent an email. If you have any questions let me know.

 

I GOT A EMAIL FROM drostover is that you. Did not get one Firechicken82. It was a reply I had on the two zbar clutch linkage brackets to mount on the sub frame. I still like the purchase you zbar and linkage. My email address is tomflorkowski@aol.com phone 176-894-8681 agreed on price for 200 dollars. Oh, can you clean up the zbar if you can.
Tom Florkowski
105 Colton Street
Buffalo, N.Y. 1420 Will need your address to send a check to you.