On to the next issue - Clutch Linkage

[ashmatk2000]

Thanks to all who helped out with the "Frame-Off" dilemma. A center tunnel floor section is on the way from Birdbrains - very nice folks. On to the next item. Apparently, the prior owner of my bird, as part of some prior mods, elected to remove the t-bird clutch linkage that attaches to the engine and the frame, and insert linkage (equalizer bar type) from a full size car. Well, I bought the correct underhood clutch linkage from Ebay just today. But the stuff under the dash still just doesn't look right. The point of connection between the clutch rod and the pedal assembly just doesn't look like the books. I suspect that some customization has been done here too. Does anyone have a picture of how the clutch pedal assembly looks under the dash installed? Perhaps from a resto effort. I'd be very greatful. Thanks again.

Ken

[Brian]

I've got some pictures, although in hindsight I wonder how good they will be when I go to put it back together.

Don't think I can post them here - I guess I'll need your email address.

[ashmatk2000]

Thanks Brian, anything you could offer would be very helpful at this point. My e-mail is [email protected]. If you have any pics of either the underhood and/or underdash components of the clutch linkage assembly, that would be great.

[nomadbird]

Ken,

Unfortunately, I'm not quite into the 21st Century and am unable to E-Mail pictures and other printed material. What you need is on page 220 of the Ford Car Parts and Accessories Illustrations Catalog. There was a two volume set of books published by Ford back in the "paper days". They consist of the "Text Catalog" form FD 9462 and "Illustrations Catalog" form FD 9463. The page I referenced shows every part including every bolt, nut, clip, and zerk fitting that you need. Page 214 shows the Bird shifter and linkage rods which you will need if you're using a stock shifter.

Las Vegas used to have an excellent CTCI Chapter with a lot of knowledgeable and genuinely nice members. I'm not sure if they are still active as an organization but, some of the older members who may have a copy of these manuals still around. Suggest you look in the CTCI membership roster and look up some of these folks. Hint: a low CTCI membership no. will probably yield pay dirt for you.

Good Luck, Tom

[ashmatk2000]

Tom, I have the 57 Ford manual (which is no help as it only shows the passenger car set-up) and the 143 page "Illustrated Parts Manual - 1955-1956-1957 Thunderbird" from Larry's. I'm guessing that the Larry's book is a condensed knock-off of the unabridged version that you have. There are two drawings in the Larry's book that are relevant to my problem: Page 12, the "brake pedal & related pars (manual gear shift)", and page 52, the "1955/57 "typical" clutch, clutch pedal, etc.". If your book has these drawings, and you refer to the first one (page 52 of my book), you can see that the clutch pedal is supposed to rest against a bumper (part 7583). In my "custom" tbird (note sarcasm), the rod connected to the clutch pedal rod that approaches the bumper has been cut short. The reason this was done is for the installation of two, apparently also "custom" braces that run from each side of the top of the transmission hump to the underside of the dash. These braces resemble the braces seen on the shock towers of early mustangs. I have never seen the braces in any t-bird books, so I suspect they are custom, particularly since they interfere with the proper operation of the clutch pedal and bumper. Why would these braces be necessary - who knows. Maybe to add rigidity since the bonehead cut out the center of the floor and sheet-metal screwed in a replacement hump. Anyway, this is why I'm try to get a better handle on how things are supposed to look.

I am a CTCI member, and I'll take your advice about making local contacts. There's an all-ford car show coming up here on the first weekend in May, maybe I'll get lucky. Thanks again.

Ken

[Brian]

Tom - is that illustration catalog you mentioned available from anyone?

Ken - pictures off to you; hope they give you the missing view that you need.

Brian

[nomadbird]

Ken,

Your page 52 sounds like it may be a reprint of my page 220. I don't believe P/N 7583 bumper should be cut due to interference with the brace you mention. There are two black bars that attach to studs on the firewall immediately above the trans tunnel. These bars which are a round cross section and flattened at each end, are attached to the "L" section at the outboard ends of this cowl stiffener. Memory tells me the bars are ~ 3/4" - 1" in dia. These black bars are used on all Bird bodies. I believe their intended purpose was to add some torsional rigidity to the dash & cowl while possibly dampening some cowl shake. I don't have a Body Parts book, so I can't reference a part number. Yes, you're right. Comparing these pieces to the Mustang shock tower bars was a very accurate analogy.

So don't scrap the bars! Something else is causing the problem.

On the subject of parts books: I'm running a little short on time right now and I would like to share some thoughts with everyone on that subject. Perhaps it could be the subject of another thread on this Forum.

Later, Tom

[ashmatk2000]

Brian, thanks again for the photos. Tom, so those are original braces. eh. Very odd that my bracket that was sposed the clutch bumper was shortened so as not to hit the brace. Brian's photos don't show the braces so I can't see how they interact with the clutch bracket assembly. I also can't see how the bracket could retract without this interference. In addition to shortening the clutch rod, the guy wrapped a piece of rubber arounf the brace so that contact would not damage the brace. Maybe its the angle of the bracket that's the problem. I say this because the clutch rod (part that goes through the firewall) doesn't go through the right hole.

Anywho, something is definitely wrong with my set-up. I have come across a 55 Merc pedal assembly on Ebay which looks exactly like the books and like Brian's set-up. Do you folks know if the clutch pedal assembly from a 55 Merc will work in my 57 bird? It looks like it will in the photos, but I don't have a part number or interchange guide to refer to. Thanks again.

oops, correction: Brians photos do show the braces. Why they interfere with my set-up and not his is still a mystery to me. The Ebay item is 2411811257 if you want to check it out.

[ 04-22-2003: Message edited by: ashmatk2000 ]

[nomadbird]

Ken,

One thing Ford did very well is: they designed an excellent significant part numbering system. Looking at your page 52 (my page 220) the part number 4001508 looked like it was unique to model 40 (that's us). So I looked it up in the text volume of my parts books and found the complete P/N is: B5S 4001508-D. Its application is for '55-'57 Thunderbirds ONLY.

I have no idea if the Merc part is close enough for reasonable re-work or not. I can tell you '57-'58 passenger cars have a different p/n, '59 cars another p/n, '58 and later Birds have still another number. Suggest shopping your sources for the right part(s). It appears that this same part is used regardless of transmission type. Other parts shown on that page may very well have broad application across many years and models. OOps! cancel that last sentence. I just looked at 7519 & 7507 to do a sample application check; their part numbers are unique to the Bird also.

Bidding on that Merc part probably wouldn't be one of your wiser investments.

Tom

[ 04-22-2003: Message edited by: nomadbird ]

[nomadbird]

Brian,

The short answer to your question re: availability of Parts Books like mine: "dunno". But as you can tell from Ken's dialog, there are some condensed "knock-offs" available from the parts dealers. Examples: Larry's Thunderbird has their p/n TLT 9 (page 125 in their catalog) for $9.95. CASCO has p/n EPD shown in their catalog on page 25, for $20.00. I have never seen either of these books, so I don't know if they're good, bad, or indifferent.

We still need a thread on the availability of printed materials required during a restoration.

Tom


P.S. The books I have cover '49-'59 Fords. There are two books in the set consisting of over 900 pages each. They are a total of 4" thick. The Form Number I posted yesterday is the official Ford identification number that appears on the bottom of the spine and the lower left corner of the cover. Mine are the 1964 edition. I bought two new sets in '74.

[ 04-22-2003: Message edited by: nomadbird ]

[ashmatk2000]

Tom, thanks for the tips on the interchageability of the Merc clutch assembly, you just saved me a few bucks and a lot of and frustration. I'll be looking for those books you have for sure. Based on the info you and Brian gave me, and Brian's great pics, I appear to have a butchered part 7519 from a passenger car. I am also lacking the assist spring, and the pedal bumper. Heck, you don't need the pedal bumper with my set-up, cause the driver side of part 7519 never gets there before it hits the brace, which is apparently why it was cut in the first place. Now I am in the market for correct t-bird part numbers 7519, 7506, the bumper and spring components, 755, 7527, 4001683, and a few misc hardware pieces. I think I'll just hunt around for a complete pedal assembly, probably simpler that way. After all, If I can find a hump, a pedal assembly should be a piece of cake, right? Thanks again guys.

[Jim 793]

OK, I'm a newbee here. I just bought a 56 bird that needs a clutch. I understand there are tips on the interchageability of the Merc clutch assembly. I am not sure how this message board works So please send them to my e-mail address:
[email protected] null[*]null