as many of you know I am putting together a 3 speed manual with overdrive on my FIL's 55 Club Sedan.

So far the parts I have received and installed have all seemed to work well. Unfortunately the car did not have any of the manual transmission parts from the beginning so I am going off of diagrams, manuals, and advice from others. A few guys have offered parts and of course I have taken them trusting they will work. However, I "think" my push rod for the clutch fork (this is the rod that has the threads and the acorn nut to push the fork) is too short. I have no measurement to go from other than a diagram. The clutch pedal, pivot, lever, etc all work correctly, and the clutch fork and bell, clutch disk and plate are all new.

The measure on the push rod I received is only 7" (from end of threads to the middle of the eye where the shoulder bolt goes). Is this correct?



Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Just checked the extra one I have that came off a v8 car and it measured 7.25 from the end of rod to center of the eye end.

Durham Missouri

Measured mine on a 55 V8.  7 1/4 inches, same as 62bigwindow.
Ben

Ben HessTulsa,OK

Just a thought.  Since you did the transmission install late at night and had issues,  did you maybe leave off the throw out bearing when you moved the bell housing to the transmission? 
Ben

Ben HessTulsa,OK

Did you install the hub assembly with the throw out bearing?

Durham Missouri

Yep, fellas I double checked that and I can see they are in there through bell housing opening on the bottom.
I contacted today the guy I bought the pivot and clutch lever from... ironically he said he had the same issue and had to extend the length of the push rod about 3 inches. I do know his cars are working fine. I have seen them in action and have been to his house several times. These are all 55/56 Ford parts so this escapes me. Why he had the same trouble I cannot know. All I need is a couple of inches and problem solved.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Do you have another z bar set up to compare it to? I wonder if he had a hybrid set up from other years and was not aware of it. It seems strange that no one else has mentioned this before. I have a complete set up from a 56 car if you need pics or measurements.

Durham Missouri

Ok, I took a couple of photos to show the dilemma. I do not see any other adjustment for LENGTH of the throw other than spinning the acorn on the rod.

a photo of the fork contacting the bearing retainer, bearing, and 3 arms on the pressure plate

 

A couple of snapshots of the fork resting as shown above but then trying to attach the push rod. Note how it simply "runs out of room"

 

this is how far I have to go to get it even begin to engage (which does barely work but to be able to full disengage the clutch I need about an 1" more of thread).

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

I got components from mcmaster-carr to make a pushrod for my truck.  They didn't have anything that was an exact fit, but it was easy to modify to fit  with ordinary tools.



Lawrenceville, GA

You may have a pressure plate that has the ‘fingers’ lower than was originally designed.  The original pressure plate was a long finger design and many of those have been replaced with a diaphragm style.  A lower finger height or more forward contact point for the throw out bearing can make the clutch adjustment rod  on the short side.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)