Chevelle updates

[VintageMusclecar]

The first test drive is in the bag.

Status report: This clutch is one grabby sumbitch. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] --no &quot;in between&quot; with this one, it's on or off like a light switch. When I first pulled it out of the garage, i thought it was going to shake the entire dashboard out of the car.

I drove it over to Marty's house here in town, then he asked if he could drive it, so I let him take it around the plats. It's going to take a little getting used to, and I definitely have to alter my driving style with this clutch, but I think we can make this work--at least for now.

I want to put a few more miles on it before I put it to the test.

More later.

[kwhizz]

The never ending &quot;Refining&quot; process............ [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[VintageMusclecar]

Yep--constantly addressing the newest weak links in the chain.

[JBALL]

Eric,

Are you going to the track tonight? I'm heading up after work.

[VintageMusclecar]

I'm planning on going--Doug Perry's taking his green monster out and called me this morning to see if I could meet him there. I won't be taking the Chevelle today--no break-in/de-bug time on the clutch yet and the Suburban's in the shop with rear brake issues (again--long story there).

You taking your car out?

[JBALL]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm planning on going--Doug Perry's taking his green monster out and called me this morning to see if I could meet him there. I won't be taking the Chevelle today--no break-in/de-bug time on the clutch yet and the Suburban's in the shop with rear brake issues (again--long story there).

You taking your car out?</div></div>

Nope. Just going to watch as well. See you there!

[EZ Nova]

Eric, that sucks you're having such an issue with these clutches. I've ran a couple clutch cars years ago, and funny, we just sorta picked and choose parts to make it work! When my '69 Nova was running mid 10's with either the 396 or 427, they both went through a Ram long style with a ram 3 pad with an (I know, stupid , but that's what we used) GM stock flywheel. Now my full weight car with slicks and enough jam to run 10.40's and didn't hurt the clutch in either case. Now a buddy of mine set the air-gap first time out, then again about 50 miles later, but that was it. It was a PITA with the 3 pad and the little hole in the bottom of the lakewood bell.

Sorry, if I had read this, I would have tried to put you onto a fairly reliable Ram set-up a ton of people use with great success, and not that pricey either. It a Ram 470/471 CW long style plate with there sintered iron disc. I think the pair are about $600.00. I know some have had some issue with the counterweight arms and have gotten parts from Cale Aronson at Black Magic Clutches with GREAT success.

I would highly recommend calling Cale at 816-390-0852 and he WILL get you in the right direction.

John

[VintageMusclecar]

I'm already making arrangements to swap the car to a 400 Turbo, waiting for confirmation from a friend that he has a suitable core available.

[earntaz]

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img] Now you're talkin' ... so much easier on the drivetrain. The three pedal troops may have a SF but it's your ride ... TAZ

[VintageMusclecar]

I'd love nothing more than to keep the stick in the car.

Simply put--with the way this thing's eating driveline parts, I can't afford to keep the stick in it--at least not with this engine in the car. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

When I'm done testing with this 496, I'm planning to build a mild 396 for the car and return it to true driver status--it will go back to a 4-speed then.

I already have 2-3 people interested in the Legend 5 speed over on the Chevelle site.