Thanks for the info on the steering stuff guys...here is another problem I've run into. The clutch fork arm has somehow came out of the pivot block. The fork arm has a half inch diameter ball bearing that goes into the allum. block attatched to the bell house. I cant slide the fork arm up high enough to clip it back into the proper area. It just lacks a quarter inch. Is ther any way to put this arm back into its proper position without separating the engine from the bellhouse? Thanks for any help!

 

are you talking about the clutch fork that goes inside the bell housing or the crossarm that goes between the frame and the engine?

 

The fork that is inside of the bellhouse. The one that pushes against the pressure plate

 

I'm not 100% sure what you have, but most have the steel ball threaded into the bellhousing and the fork has 2 spring steel fingers that clip over the ball.

it sounds like you are describing the ball as attached to the fork. Am I missing something ?

PS. what engine and year is yours? I just looked at a 68 390 bellhousing I have and it has a flat bar for a pivot attached to the housing and the fork just has a flat wire springclip to attach it.

 

Not positive on year, Im sure it has been swapped at one time or another. The steel ball is attatched to the fork via 3 small steel cradels. The spring steel clip goes over the top of the ball. This clip is what slides into the allum. block, that is the base for the steel ball to pivot on. I finall got it in place, but had to cut some of the spring steel clip off of the end so it would clip over the block. Clutch action is good now. Thanks for all the help.....

 

Just curious, I've done hundreds of clutches and never saw that setup, what engine and tranny are you working on?

 

The truck is a 1978 f 150 custom stepside 4x4. The guy I bought it from swapped in a engine from a 1979 3 quarter ton 2 wheel drive. The original engine (in the stepside) was a 351 mod. The engine he put in is a 351 mod. He said the tranny and transfer case in the stepside right now is the original ones. And from my inspection I believe this to be true.

 

Wow, noones seen this before? Only delt with three of these old trucks, and they all had this setup. 79 F150 4x4 351m np435 is what i have. Im not sure how that thing has poped out of its home unless it bent the spring clip or broke that part off at the bell... Im pretty sure you wont get that slid together without busting the trans from the motor. I did mine a few times in the past few days with my engine swap, and the throwout bearing has to almost slide right off the retainer before it will allow that clip to slid in. If your patient, you may be able to get in there with a small flat blade driver and work the fork from top to bottom and gently pry that clip back into position...? Hope this works out for ya man, ive pulled my motor and trans apart 3 times in a week and the thought of doing it again sickens me
Brian

 

Yes but think how good your getting at it, soon you'll be able to do it in your sleep

 

Brian, The thought of splitting the block from the bell realy disturbed me also,so here is what I did...I reached up and pulled the fork almost all the way away from the throwout bearing. Just enough to expose the fork retaining clip with the steel ball. Then I got my trusty DREMMEL TOOL with a heavy duty cut-off disk. Then I proceeded to cut just over a quarter inch off of the clip. (The one that goes over the ball). This was just enough to slide the fork back onto the throwout bearing and then clip it onto the alluminum retainer/pivot block. I then reinstalled the rubber cover and pushrod. Got into truck and fired her up. Clutch works excellent with no sloppyness in the fork action. The only way the fork can come back out would be if you are do'n some serious 4 wheel'n and a rock or tree comes up and smacks it out. Even then,ther isn't much place else it can go but just hang ther.

 

is the return spring still attached? never herd of one just falling out unless the return sping is off or the motor mounts are broken

 

YEp. its still attatched.Put it back on after everything was done

 

Attaboy, glad you managed to get it without the feeling of hitting yourself in the crotch with a hammer when its all said and done. I got my efi 460 fired up last night in the 79, so the pulling of the motor 3 times is much better nowBrian