Hydraulic Clutch
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Hydraulic Clutch
How hard would it be to convert my mechanical clutch into a hydraulic clutch? I know I need the hydraulic lines, a slave cylinder, and the pedal setup for a hydraulic clutch and maybe some other things, but that's basically it I think. Has anybody ever done this with a dent or even another vehicle? Thanks for any advice!
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
It is easy to do. I had a 1957 Ford F100 when I was young and the front of the crank in the 312 merc snapped off going down the road. Well having very limited funds I had a good running Chevy 283 that I dropped in and I had a hydraulic clutch with a old school Chevy duel master cylinder in the firewall. One side was the brakes and the other was the clutch. Worked out real good.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury, PA
I have seen pictures of some swaps and also have done my own. The big issue is the brake booster is soo big the master cylinder will not fit behind it. To stick it out away from the booster you really have to make a bracket that sticks out very far from your clutch pedal therefore creating a lot of twisting action. You may be able to get by with this for a while but I wouldn't trust it over time.
I actually made a bracket to push the brake booster out another 3" and extended the brake rod. I could then put the master cylinder behind the booster and closer to the center line of the clutch pedal. There is a grommet hole in the firewall with some unused wires (at least in my 79) just to the left of the clutch pedal and in just the right spot about 3" down from the pivot point. Make a reinforcement plate for the firewall and weld a bolt to the clutch lever and voila. Took me a few hours in an afternoon.
Still holding up after about a year now of around town driving and also the higher forces of a 6.9L diesel clutch.
I actually made a bracket to push the brake booster out another 3" and extended the brake rod. I could then put the master cylinder behind the booster and closer to the center line of the clutch pedal. There is a grommet hole in the firewall with some unused wires (at least in my 79) just to the left of the clutch pedal and in just the right spot about 3" down from the pivot point. Make a reinforcement plate for the firewall and weld a bolt to the clutch lever and voila. Took me a few hours in an afternoon.
Still holding up after about a year now of around town driving and also the higher forces of a 6.9L diesel clutch.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,340
Likes: 4,363
From: SW VA
I am also interested in this, as the linkage on my '78 is all outta whack! I can't even drive it...
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: N. IL
I didn't have any issues with my brake booster. But if you do you could always do a hydroboost conversion.
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