Ok folks- Jason Cook and I have spent the last 2 weekends doing a 4 speed swap in Project Skull & Crossbones. We have had many little problems that have arose but have been able to over come them. This one is stumping us. We believe the Z bar is not correct for the 340 (or even a Buick) If you look at the Z bar from the engine pivot stud and positioned the leg that the clutch pedal linkage attaches to at the "12 o'clock" position, the leg that attaches to the clutch fork is positioned at "4:30". In order to have the "slop" taken out of the pedal we need the fork leg positioned at about "6 o'clock". There are a few pics I added to show the Z bar I obtained with a "complete swap" from a board member (we'll be chatting soon). I have seen pics on the site that show the z-bar at 12 and 6. Can someone who has a SBB 4 speed snap some pics of their linkage set up and help me out here. Also is the throwout bearing the shorter or taller bearing???
As far as the realease bearing, I looked it up in my Buick Master parts catalog. It shows a different number for big block and small blocks- 64-67 225-300-340 eng C.T. (conventional transmission) #907588 64-66 Skylark GS & Wildcat C.T. #1367058 I wonder if we can cross over these numbers to current aftermarket. Im no Nailhead expert. My knowledge gets a little fuzzy prior to 1968. But the 350 takes a taller release bearing than the 455 cars. You would think it would be the same, but its not. Im wondering if its the same case here. We have what I would consider a big block (short) style bearing in there. As far as the Z bar, here is the listing in the book. I cant quite make heads or tails out of it. The Skylark GS is listed under 4600 series, but I dont see a small block listing. Unless the 401 and the 340 share Z bars. The second pic is the exploded view in the service manual. The exploded view in the street in front of Tony's house is not available yet. And you better get that Z bar off your wife's cutting board!!!
Ant, I have this pic on file...z-bar is from a 66 Special with V6 and column shift. Frame bracket is too. It was a simple install on my 66 Special with 300/auto. Note the partial pn on the z-bar....44557
There are several pictures of a NOS SBB one piece Z-bar in my sticky above on 64-65 SBB 4 speeds (post 16). I believe 66 used the same style. The GS/401 stuff is different. Hope this helps.
CARS shows the shorter bearing when you do a normal search. When you type GM 1394214 in Google, CARS has one (prolly NOS) for $166 and of course no picture. We looked at all the pics posted in the stickys. Unfortunately you cannot tell if they are laying flat or if they are at different angles. I ordered a Z bar from the parts place which showed 64-66. I'll see what I get. JC I also ordered the springs. As for the throwout bearing I can get the "taller one" from any auto parts store if needed lets see what we come out with from the new Z bar. Any Pictures that show the angles of the "z bar legs" while in the car would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:TU:
When installed in the car, the bottom leg of the z-bar points nearly straight down. The upper leg leans towards the front of the car at about a 1:30 position when viewed from the motor side. Throwout bearing was from Centerforce. I don't recall the pn.
When the Z bar was installed in Tony's 66, and the clutch pedal was all the way up, the bottom leg was at like 8:00. When you installed the adjuster rod to the fork, the rod was angled downward. Im not sure what Tony's Z bar came out of. But Im pretty sure it didnt come out of a 66 340 Im curious to see what the Parts Place one looks like.
I bet when it is at the 6 o'clock position all the slop is taken up on the clutch bearing as well.:idea2:
Z-Bar was "Backordered" from The Parts Places' vendor(guess the ship from China has been delayed). Should be to me next week. I'll keep you posted Walt, thanks for your interest:TU:
I have an original Z-bar from my '70 GS 350 I can check, if it's the same one you ordered?? I know there's a difference between the SBB and the BBB.
Rob the one I ordered is for 64-66 Larks, I am sure they are similar but I will wait for the one from TPP. Thanks very much anyway:beers2:
Well the Z-Bar finally arrived from the parts place today. looking at them from frame side to the engine side and both positioned at "12 o'clock" the old one is at 8 and the new one is at 6:30 so we might have a winner. Going to try it out.:TU: Looks like we have a winner! Snake- Get your butt in gear we got some work to finish!
I believe a hydraulic setup is available to replace the z bar. :rant: http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/mcleod_universal_bellhousing/index.html
