I have a 1980 F-100 302ci with a T-18. The motor was bad so I am now installing a 1968 302ci. I noticed my clutch, flywheel and clutch release components were bad. So now for my questions, I have plenty. I did purchase a new flywheel and clutch kit. My truck had the optional (acording to the auto store) 11" clutch in it. I have it all bolted up and I did make sure it was aligned right with the tool. I held it in and secured the pressure plate with it not resting on the alignment tool ect.

Where can I find the release components? LMC list them in there catalog but I'm looking at close to $400 for all the parts!! More that the truck is worth.

Can I swap over to a difrent style of clutch release? I want to stay away from hydralic if I can. I like the old manual stuff. Lol

What is the clutch pilot bushing? My kit came with one but my trans didn't have this installed on it. Should I install it? Looks like it goes behind the throwout bearing & fork assembly. Is that correct?

What type of fluid & weight do I use in this trans?

Do I need to get any special typpe of lube for the inutshaft splines. I have seen spline lube but will any high temp grease work?

Any tricks to getting this together is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advanced for any help or sugesstions. I see that my clutch release components were used on 80-83. So maybe hard to find. I may have more questions later but I will post my progress. This truck needs a lot of love.

 

Can`t help much with the release mechanism, maybe try broncograveyard.com for parts.
The pilot bearing presses into the flywheel/crankshaft to support the nose of the transmission input shaft and you should fit the new one.
Your trans needs gear oil, something like 80w90 would be good.
A light coating of a lithium grease or any high temp grease should be fine on the splines in my opinion.

 

I do have the pilot bearing in the end of the crank. I'm 99% sure it fits. It feels like I'm not getting the splines lined up right. Nor the correct angle set so that the face of the block & trans are perfectly paralell. The clutch pilot bushing. It's a solid chunk of round stock with a hole in the center of it.

Thanks for the help.

 

No help on the clutch pilot bushing either then, never heard of that.
Did you use a clutch plate alignment tool to get the clutch disc centered on the flywheel? It does help a lot with getting the trans input shaft to go into the pilot bearing.
And absolutely you need the gaps between engine and trans to be the same all the way around as you mate the two up. Some guys get extra long bolts to help with alignment.
Sometimes if you rotate the engine crank a little as you feed the trans in it will help to get the splines in the clutch hub to engage with those on the input shaft.

 

I did use the plastic alignment tool. I will try the long bolt idea. I also did try spinning the crank. I think it would be easier to do it on the trans tail shaft. U can feel it hitting the splines better. I just need another person to help.

 

Pilot bushing is just a simple replacement item for the pilot bearing. Bearings are better, but the bushing is typically brass, so they last dern near forever......

 

Thankyou Rogue_Wolff. That is what I was thinking. Just I didn't understand one of the photos. Well looks like now I just need to find my clutch linkage parts I need. Thanks for the replies.