Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

I'm in the middle of rounding up parts for an sm465 swap, I want to run a hydraulic clutch setup. I just can't justify spending 350-500 bucks for a set of pedals. I know somebody here must have modified a set of mechanical clutch pedals to work with a clutch master cylinder. Or used an aftermarket setup like wilwood or the like. Any advice would be appreciated!

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

I used the mech. pedals with the Hydramax hydraulic stuuf from American Powertrain. Very happy with it.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

The push pin is supposedly in a slightly different location for hydroboost.
I question the veracity of that tale... If it's indeed true... there's no reason the standard pedal couldn't be modified by drilling and installing a pin in the hydroboost pedal pin location.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Hatzie, the OP is asking about the hydraulic clutch, not hydroboost brakes.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

2drpost, did you use the bracket and clutch rod kit?

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Same thing applies.
The hydraulic clutch pushrod pin really is in a different location on the pedal arm from the Z-Bar pushrod pin.
If you can find out the proper location you just drill for a new pin and weld in a new pin.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

I've wondered if the pin was the same for the master cinder vs the linkage bar, if they are it wouldn't be bad to cut and move. Only thing that scares me is getting the right ratio for full clutch disengagement and pedal travel

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Mine looks like it was adapted from mechanical linkage to hydro. Works fine. When I replaced the clutch, I also replaced the hydro components. I had to open up the clutch master pushrod opening, and did put a stop bolt through the floor as the clutch master pushrod was bottomed out with about 2" of travel left in the pedal.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Any way I could bother you to get a picture of how its modified? It might be help to somebody else down the line too as this seems to he an issue with all manual swaps.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

You can get round stock in the correct diameter for the pin, drill the arm for an interference fit, drive the pin in flush with the side opposite the pushrod, and plug weld the pin on the side opposite the pushrod.
You don't have to use circlips you can crossdrill the pin for a hairpin clip and spacer washer or a cotter pin and spacer washer.
Some kind of pedal stop would certainly be helpful. I'm not sure that my 1985 had one and it had a stock hydraulic clutch. I know my 1976 didn't.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

That's what I'm probably going to do. I'm going to order a new master so I can find the size rod I need, I'm trying to get all my stuff lined up so I can get this turd going again!

I'll probably have to make a pedal stop because I know I'll have a problem figuring out the proper location for the push rod mount so I'll just let the master bottom out and then make a stop for the pedal.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Once you start driving it you'll feel the clutch disengage. I usually get to the point where I don't bother to push it further than that. A lot of the time I don't use the clutch on the way up through the gears... you get a feel for the engine and road speed.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

I'm probably going to have to throw the truck together and drive it and make some tweaks to it. It's hard getting this all sorted out because I don't have another truck to look at or pull parts from.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Here is a pic of the link and stop bolt.

Re: Hydro clutch pedal improvising
 

Awesome!

I went to tractor supply last night and found a brass bushing that fits just slightly loose inside the loop for the master rush rod, and a bolt that fit inside the bushing, ground the bushing down slightly and it crowned the inside slightly. Enough for the bolt to grab it and not spin. I think that will be the ticket for the master cylinder mounting. Next will be the slave cylinder. Thank you guys for all the help!