Ever Change a Clutch in a Mopar?

[habitatguy187]

My father-in-law needs his clutch changed in his 73' Cuda, he asked if I wanted to do it but I'm not sure if I want to take the risk since it's not my car. I tried finding some stuff online about doing it but didn't come up with anything. There's not even a Haynes manual for those cars (to my knowledge) so it'd be pretty much take apart and put back together like you saw.

Question is has anyone ever changed one on an old school rwd car? Is it hard? Anything special to look out for? I know they don't have hydraulic systems but I'm not sure if that stuff needs to be changed/adjusted, and if it does I don't know how to do it.

All in all I'm probably not going to tackle this unless some guys in here tell me that it's pretty simple.

 

[joe sobo]

My father-in-law needs his clutch changed in his 73' Cuda, he asked if I wanted to do it but I'm not sure if I want to take the risk since it's not my car. I tried finding some stuff online about doing it but didn't come up with anything. There's not even a Haynes manual for those cars (to my knowledge) so it'd be pretty much take apart and put back together like you saw.

Question is has anyone ever changed one on an old school rwd car? Is it hard? Anything special to look out for? I know they don't have hydraulic systems but I'm not sure if that stuff needs to be changed/adjusted, and if it does I don't know how to do it.

All in all I'm probably not going to tackle this unless some guys in here tell me that it's pretty simple.

i had a 1971 340-4 speed plymouth duster,and they all used the same tranny. only the hemi trans' were different, which the difference was only the spline count. your dads car has what is called a A833 trans. they are so simple, and straight foward to do. you will have np problems, since they are not a hydraulic clutch. but you should look around on ebay for a new clutch return spring. as soon as i put a new clutch in and took the car to the track, it broke

 

[habitatguy187]

but you should look around on ebay for a new clutch return spring. as soon as i put a new clutch in and took the car to the track, it broke

I take it this doesn't come in a clutch kit? He's trying to get it swapped out well before Friday so that he can make it to the Mopar Nationals, which is why I'm leary of doing it, I don't want to screw something up and him not be able to go.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

It's so easy a caveman could do it.

 

[quayzar590awd]

^^^^ , Maybe not that easy but its easy. I changed the clutch in my 55 ford crown vic Y8 in two hours by myself. The hardest part we re adjusting the column shift rods. That took 20 minutes. A cave man would just sit there and club it until it came off.

 

[toofast82]

It's so easy a caveman could do it.

Pretty much
All the same stuff applies like shifter linkage, dshaft, clutch cable,etc. You just have to jack the whole car up decently high, so you can get under there which sucks.
Just make sure you adjust the new clutch to the proper freeplay
Be careful not to scratch the car if its really nice!

 

[habitatguy187]

Thanks guys, we decided we're going for it tonight, he doesn't get off work till 9 so we'll start soon after that, my dad also told me that it should take about 2 hours. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[habitatguy187]

It's so easy a caveman could do it.

I wish.... I think it's harder than my car.

Last night I started a clutch job on the cuda and today I pulled the disc off and have a couple questions.

1. The new clutch disc that he bought is bigger than his old one, it also doesn't look like it will mount to the flywheel correctly, but he didn't buy a new flywheel, just the disc and pressure plate (Mcleod) I'm guessing that he needs to buy either a new clutch kit or a new flywheel but I don't know which???

2. If he ends up needing to keep the current flywheel I have a question about the resurfacing. It looks like it has small heat spots all over it but the thing is as smooth as glass Does it still need resurfaced or can I go over it with a scotch pad?

3. If the flywheel does need resurfaced is there a step in it or is it just a basic grind?

4. Do I have to remove the flywheel to tell if the car has a pilot bushing or bearing? How can I tell if it's bad?


Thanks for all your help, I really need to get this done since he's trying to make the Mopar Nationals this weekend, he lined this up with 2 other guys a couple weeks ago but they kept putting him off and here I am at last minute trying to make things work, help me get him back on the road.

 

[lacroixdp]

Is the replacement pressure plate the same size as the old one? If it is, then as long as the clutch has some clearance top to bottom and its the same spline count then I would guess it will be OK. I'm definitely not a Mopar guy though - so I could be way off base

 

[joe sobo]

I wish.... I think it's harder than my car.

Last night I started a clutch job on the cuda and today I pulled the disc off and have a couple questions.

1. The new clutch disc that he bought is bigger than his old one, it also doesn't look like it will mount to the flywheel correctly, but he didn't buy a new flywheel, just the disc and pressure plate (Mcleod) I'm guessing that he needs to buy either a new clutch kit or a new flywheel but I don't know which???

2. If he ends up needing to keep the current flywheel I have a question about the resurfacing. It looks like it has small heat spots all over it but the thing is as smooth as glass Does it still need resurfaced or can I go over it with a scotch pad?

3. If the flywheel does need resurfaced is there a step in it or is it just a basic grind?

4. Do I have to remove the flywheel to tell if the car has a pilot bushing or bearing? How can I tell if it's bad?


Thanks for all your help, I really need to get this done since he's trying to make the Mopar Nationals this weekend, he lined this up with 2 other guys a couple weeks ago but they kept putting him off and here I am at last minute trying to make things work, help me get him back on the road.

yea, mopar in the early 70's had i think was a 10" and a 11" flywheel.
if its still smooth, then i wouldn't get it cut
no, you dont have to remove the flywheel.

 

[habitatguy187]

Is the replacement pressure plate the same size as the old one? If it is, then as long as the clutch has some clearance top to bottom and its the same spline count then I would guess it will be OK. I'm definitely not a Mopar guy though - so I could be way off base

Now the new pressure plate matches up to the clutch, but it fits over the clutch and onto the flywheel (just barely) so idk. I even signed up on a mopar forum and no one's helped yet. (old guys and their computers skills)

Basically all I need to know now is if the discs are interchangeable.

 

[joe sobo]

Now the new pressure plate matches up to the clutch, but it fits over the clutch and onto the flywheel (just barely) so idk. I even signed up on a mopar forum and no one's helped yet. (old guys and their computers skills)

Basically all I need to know now is if the discs are interchangeable.

the disc would not be interchangeable if you have a 10 inch disc, and trying to put it on a 11 inch flywheel. or vise versa

 

[habitatguy187]

the disc would not be interchangeable if you have a 10 inch disc, and trying to put it on a 11 inch flywheel. or vise versa

No no no, the one that was in there had a 10" disc and a 10" pressure plate, the new kit has both 11" disc and pressure plate, but the flywheel is the same. It all fits together and will bolt up, but the clearance of the new disc and old flywheel is pretty slim, I think that it would be fine but I don't want to be pulling it all apart again.

 

[lacroixdp]

Slap it together - if the pressure plate will bolt up and the clutch clears then my moneys on it being fine. What's the worst that can happen? You have to take it back apart and get a different clutch kit - not a horribly big deal!

 

[joe sobo]

No no no, the one that was in there had a 10" disc and a 10" pressure plate, the new kit has both 11" disc and pressure plate, but the flywheel is the same. It all fits together and will bolt up, but the clearance of the new disc and old flywheel is pretty slim, I think that it would be fine but I don't want to be pulling it all apart again.

no it wont work. if the car still has the orig 10" and you are trying to use a 11" clutch and plate, the clearance looks to work, but is too tight. you will explode the clutch pack.

 

[joe sobo]

Slap it together - if the pressure plate will bolt up and the clutch clears then my moneys on it being fine. What's the worst that can happen? You have to take it back apart and get a different clutch kit - not a horribly big deal!

dude, think about it.... the op is trying to put a 11 inch clutch on a 10 inch flywheel......... why would you tell him to just slap it on ........ the wort that can happen is him listening to someone that just wanted to post on this thread. please go out to your car , and if it is a 5-speed, take the clutch out and put a honda clutch in it and see what happens. the worst will be that you have to take it apart for the second time and buy another clutch

 

[the_mork]

If the flywheel has hot spots it should be resurfaced or replaced. I would guess that it should not be resurfaced but it will depend on how clutch adjustment is done. On some cars the thickness of the flywheel is necessary for the clutch to work properly.

If there is a bearing in the center of the flywheel then it has a pilot bearing/bushing and it should be replaced every time you change the clutch. You can fill the hole with grease or wet toilet paper then rap on it with a socket and hammer to get the bushing out or you get get a pilot bearing puller.

 

[toofast82]

Do it right, do it once. If you have to wait a few days for the right parts, just be patient. Don't try to use an 11" clutch on 10" flywheel. If they were compatible than they would just sell one clutch/flywheel and wouldn't measure inches.

 

[habitatguy187]

dude, think about it.... the op is trying to put a 11 inch clutch on a 10 inch flywheel......... why would you tell him to just slap it on ........ the wort that can happen is him listening to someone that just wanted to post on this thread. please go out to your car , and if it is a 5-speed, take the clutch out and put a honda clutch in it and see what happens. the worst will be that you have to take it apart for the second time and buy another clutch

Well after having a pretty extensive learning lesson about model numbers and differences from year to year from a guy on a mopar forum (reminded me of dsm-onster , I got lucky) The 11" clutch is fine with our particular trans and flywheel, it was so great to finally get a clear answer, this guy was beasting all over mopar trivia and serial numbers.

If there is a bearing in the center of the flywheel then it has a pilot bearing/bushing and it should be replaced every time you change the clutch. You can fill the hole with grease or wet toilet paper then rap on it with a socket and hammer to get the bushing out or you get get a pilot bearing puller.

My father and brother in-law replaced this yesterday while I was at work, they said it sucked real bad, after Bible study last night I go over there and all they got done was swapped to the new duel fuel rail carb, put the starter back on, do the pilot bushing, flywheel, clutch disc, pressure plate, and bell housing....in like 8 hours! And they're not slow, it's just that this job is being horrible.

So I jack with the Z-bar assembly (for the clutch pedal, which is a really crazy design by the way) and get that hooked up, then I go and bring the 1,000lbs tranny up and start putting it in the bellhousing and through the PP and all that, then it stopped....

We couldn't get it all the way in but I new it was through the clutch because when I turned the output shaft I could hear the disc spinning inside the bellhousing, we tried for an hour to align this HEAVY piece of metal inside this little hole, finally giving up at 2pm.

After talking with my dad this morning I guess that everytime he's had to replace the pilot bushing he had to take a dremel to the new bushing and bore the hole out a little since when you bang it into the crank it bends it and crushes the hole a little What a stupid thing to have to do to a brand new part.

So now my father-in-law is driving his truck to mopar this morning, and we're going to have to pull everything back off and work on this stupid brand new bushing


So easy a caveman could do it???

 

[lacroixdp]

dude, think about it.... the op is trying to put a 11 inch clutch on a 10 inch flywheel......... why would you tell him to just slap it on ........ the wort that can happen is him listening to someone that just wanted to post on this thread. please go out to your car , and if it is a 5-speed, take the clutch out and put a honda clutch in it and see what happens. the worst will be that you have to take it apart for the second time and buy another clutch

Because I had more than an inkling of a feeling that I was right I don't post unless I'm pretty damn sure I'm on the right track - I suppose I was vindicated in this particular instance

Brad:
I've heard tales of those pilot bearings being an absolute bear to fit on the output shaft. Good luck to you man... if I was still there I'd help you with it!

 

[habitatguy187]

Brad:
I've heard tales of those pilot bearings being an absolute bear to fit on the output shaft. Good luck to you man... if I was still there I'd help you with it!

Thanks I know you would, I am glad he wants to take a break though, I'm tired of taking 30 minute showers everynight and still going to bed dirty

 

[the_mork]

Then you're smashing the pilot bushing too hard. They are a press fit but they only go in as far as they go and one or two mild raps with a hammer should set them completely.

 

[habitatguy187]

Then you're smashing the pilot bushing too hard. They are a press fit but they only go in as far as they go and one or two mild raps with a hammer should set them completely.

They didn't say how many times they had to hit it, but made it pretty clear that they had to bang it in there, I just hope I get it out without too much trouble. Supposedly they tried the grease method with the original and couldn't get it, I'll find out next time we work on it.

 

[the_mork]

Run out to one of the chain auto stores and pick up a pilot bearing puller. You can just borrow one usually with a deposit. The grease method works especially if you have a metal alignment tool that you can smash in there but the pilot puller is faster, easier, and less messy. When you put it back in there use a wood shim and tap it lightly.

 

[joe sobo]

Because I had more than an inkling of a feeling that I was right I don't post unless I'm pretty damn sure I'm on the right track - I suppose I was vindicated in this particular instance

yea, by luck.............

i don't know what set of tracks they were, but in this case you are right