Clutch & Bellhousing Alignment

[spd4me]

After four years of clutch fork not disengaging properly, I finally took it apart to install a 3/8" spacer. Looking at the photos, you can see where the fork was binding against the bellhousing. Found the clutch pressure plate was warped and the disk shot (see pics). Got the flywheel re-surfaced, some new ARP bolts, and installed a McLeod long style clutch. While I had everything off, I had read horror stories about aligning the bellhousing with the center of the crankshaft. Ran across the Camaro website below and found a bellhousing alignment made simple tool (go to end of website article). If you have ever tried to alignment with a gauge method, this tool is worth the $135. You have to heat it with hot water to get it to fit over the ssmall extension on the rear of the crankshaft. I hope to have all back together this weekend and drive.
Bob

www.camaros.org/bellhousings.shtml

www.browellbellhousings.com

[pgermond]

Good info - thanks for sharing. BTW - how many miles on your old clutch?

[spd4me]

The original clutch was suppose to be a Pioneer. At about 1000 miles my rear main seal was leaking so I sent back to builder to replace seal. When I took apart, he had put a Valeo clutch back in and current mileage is 7500.
Bob

[cal.cheesehead]

I looked for an alignment tool when I put mine together last year. After reading how great the quicktime housing were I thought the process would be simple. I spent endless hours with offset dowels to dial it in to the .003 runout that my engine builder recommended.
Good luck. Let us know how the tool worked.

[pgermond]

The original clutch was suppose to be a Pioneer. At about 1000 miles my rear main seal was leaking so I sent back to builder to replace seal. When I took apart, he had put a Valeo clutch back in and current mileage is 7500.
Bob

Was the builder SA, by chance?

[cal.cheesehead]

No, it was a local guy that specializes in Fords.

[pgermond]

No, it was a local guy that specializes in Fords.

Cheese, the question was for Speed..... unless that is who you were referring too.

[spd4me]

Cheesehead - When I installed the tool and put the bellsousing on, I used a feeler gauge to get size of offset gap and bought set of the dowels that fit within that amount of offset. I set my dial gauge on the workbench and rotated the dowel to determine which side of it had the most offset, marked it and installed on motor in direction of offset, put bellhousing on and the ring slide right through. Phil - I really don't want to say because I don't want to embarrass anyone. In todays world, you have to trust but verify.
Bob

[spd4me]

Wow, what a difference. I actually have a clutch that will disengauge. Smooth as glass. Reverse gear doesn't grind any more and it won't creep while holding clutch in in first gear. Cann't believe I put fixing this off for so long.
Bob