Hey guys my first post I just joined.

I have a 78 f-150 4x4 with the 4.9 and manual trans. I use it for a plow truck here in MN.

My issue is this: awhile back i was driving on a bumpy road and the clutch pedal suddenly fell to the floor and wouldn't come back up. What i had found was the (not sure on specific terms bare with me) long bolt push rod thing that pushes in the lever in the actual trans poped out of place. I popped it back in and made it home. One day i did some adjusting on the bolts to try and tighten(lengthen or shorten) it thinking it wouldn't pop out of place again. I hadn't even thought about that adjustment for ever but as of late its been shifting hard and grinds when trying to put in first gear from a stop, same for reverse. it sounds bad and is not conducive to the constant stop and go shifting needed for a plow truck.

question: should I re-adjust that push pin again, maybe making it so it pushes down more? maybe it's not pushing in on the clutch lever thing deep enough making it harder to shift. idk.

sorry for terms hope you guys can follow.

thanks so much

 

alittle over a year ago i had a simular problem with my '78. It turned out to be the bracket that holds the clutch fork and acts as the pivot point broke off from the bell houseing. The bell houseing is cast and the braket is steel, so they cant easily be welded togeather.
That being said, to me it sounds like the push rod that you mentioned is just out of adjustment. When the braket broke off on mine it ground going into all the gears, not just 1st and reverse. The fix is simple, just tighten the nuts on the push rod untill the gears dont grind but the clutch still holds strong under load. I dont know the exact amount, but you should be able to push the clutch pedal in about 2" before it starts getting harder to push, or in other words it should press in freely untill that point. I'd just adjust (tighten) those nuts and check it often untill you get to that point. or if you have a buddy or someone who can check it for you while your underneath that would help too.
best of luck!

 

Clutch pedal drops to floor.

Clutch pedal release rod attaches to clutch pedal bellcrank under the dash with a clevis pin, then routes thru the toe board to the clutch equalizer bar, attaches with a clevis pin.

The rod has 90 degree ends, on each end is a nylon bushing. Bushings crack apart/disintigrate, 90 degree ends begin to crack, eventually snap off.

1978: Two different types of release rods, two different types of bushings. All are available from repop sellers, but be aware that LMC's catalog applications are wrong.

The serial number is the last 6 digits of the VIN

2) COAZ-7526-A.. Clutch Pedal Release Rod Nylon Bushing ~ 1978 F100/350 & Bronco before serial number BA0,001.

D7TZ-7521-A .. Clutch Pedal Release Rod ~ 1978 F100/350 & Bronco before serial number BA0,001.
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2) D8TZ-7526-A .. Clutch Pedal Release Rod Nylon Bushing ~ 1978 F100/350 & Bronco from serial number BA0,001; 1979 F100/350 & Bronco.

D8TZ-7521-A .. Clutch Pedal Release Rod ~ 1978 F100/350 & Bronco from serial number BA0,001; 1979 F100/350 & Bronco.

 

Check you engine mounts too. I had a bad engine mount that would allow the engine to rock enough that the linkage would fall off.

 

And you need to keep an inch and a half of free play on the clutch pedal or you will be putting a new throw-out bearing in eventually. Make sure your clutch linkage return spring that attaches to the Z bar (equalizer bar) has enough tension also. I spray the linkage with white lithium grease. Welcome to the site! I lived in the St Paul area all my life but now im up in NW Wisconsin.

 

hey cool thanks for the info, also i dont have a spring on there dont no if it rusted off or came off when that rod came off. does the 78 have one. will that help the clutch action and where can i find one? thanks

 

It may have come off when your adjuster rod came loose. If my memory recalls it went from the equalizer bar to a point on the frame forward of the clutch linkage. LMC should have it. Get familiar with the part vendors like LMC, Dennis Carpenter, Jeffs Bronco Graveyard and National Parts Depot. They all have catalogs free to order. And I'll PM you on where to find the factory service manuals scanned online. Cheers!

 

Front of spring hooks to frame rail in front of equalizer bar. Rear of spring hooks into the hole on clutch fork.

D7TZ-7523-F .. Clutch Fork Retracting Spring / 1977/79 F100/350 2WD / Obsolete

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 6 = 800-543-4959.