'60 F100 4-speed clutch problem


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By Marc - 15 Years Ago
Ok, it's not a y-block. Someone in the past installed a 360 & 4-speed from a '73 F100, but there's a lot of folks here who know plenty more about transmissions than I do, so here goes.

Drove the truck Sunday morning, no problems. Started it Sunday afternoon, tried to put it in gear, it wouldn't go, all it did was grind no matter what gear I tried.

The truck still has the original hydraulic clutch setup. I can shift into any gear with the engine off. I climbed under and adjusted all the slop out of the point where the slave cylinder push rod meets the fork. Made sure the clutch master cylinder had plenty of fluid. Started the truck and still couldn't get it into gear.

I shut it off and climbed underneath, and had the kid step on the clutch. everything moves as it should. The slave cylinder forces the pushrod to move the fork back, but I can't detect any movement of the pressure plate or clutch disc.

Based on that it seems that the master cylinder and slave cylinder are ok, and the problem lies with either the pressure plate or the release bearing. Am I on the right path, or am I missing something simple. Is there any other way to check the pressure plate and ensure it's ok? I've never had a pressure plate fail, what are the usual symptoms?

By Ol'ford nut - 15 Years Ago
I would think your pressure plate is ok but would take a closer look at the fork that is holding the throwout bearing.
By charliemccraney - 15 Years Ago
Is the master cylinder reservoir full? Did you try bleeding it?
By lowrider - 15 Years Ago
Is the truck a 73 or one near that year? We use to have to take off the stop on the clutch pedal arm because it wouldn't travel far enough to release the clutch. Seems like a 1/2 inch made all the difference in the world.
By 314 - 15 Years Ago
what happens when you put the truck in gear and then start the engine.
By Marc - 15 Years Ago
The truck is a '60, originally a 292 3-speed. I just picked it up a few months ago. From what I can tell by the markings I've found, it now has a '73 360 & 4-speed. I checked the master cylinder & it's full. Can't find any leaks in the master , slave, or the line between the two.

I haven't tried starting it in gear yet. Dont have time to do much of anything with it until saturday.

And yes, before anyone asks, I do have a 312 that I'm planning to put in there when the 360 kicks the bucket. Smile When that time comes, will it bolt up to the 4 speed? 

By Marc - 15 Years Ago
I finally rolled the truck out into the daylight today and took a good look at what's going on. Tried starting it in gear and the truck just lurched, even with my foot on the clutch. Got under and took a look: 2 of the 3 fingers on the pressure plate are doing their job. One isn't doing a thing. The pin that the finger pivots on is missing. Guess I got my work cut out for me.

Of course this brings me back to my other question. I'll probably end up pulling the engine to get to the clutch since I'd rather do that than lay on the ground trying to move that transmission around. This would be a good time to stuff a y-block back in there. will a Y bolt up to a '73 4-speed in place of an FE? Will I need a different bellhousing or at least an adapter? I know I'll need a new front mount. The engine I'm considering putting in there already has the truck front cover, but it's got a passenger car pan so I may need to swap that.
By junkyardjeff - 15 Years Ago
The 73 trans will not bolt to the 312 and if its a 4 speed with granny throw it away and adapt a 5 speed if you are not going to use it like a truck,now if its a toploader car 4 speed it might have both bolt patterns.
By Marc - 15 Years Ago
Yup, it's a granny 4 speed. The truck is driven like a truck, I didn't get it to race it or drive it hard, so for now the 4 speed does what I want it to do. In the future I'll probably want something a little more highway friendly, and I'll hold off on putting the Y in there until I settle on another transmission to mate it to.