..."A Little Bit of Steel Let Me Down"

Are there different blade-style fork pivots? Here's the problem:

I used a bellhousing from an 84 pickup for the 5-spd conversion in the 65 Valiant, and, other than shortening the fork, the clutch linkage lined up ok.

However, I am now installing a 76 Dart bh and 833OD in my 64 Dart and can't get the linkage lined up. The fork seems to come out lower than it does on the truck bh, neccesitating an angle on the z-bar and interfering with the exhaust, etc. The fork comes through at the very bottom of the cut-out in the bh, much lower than the first one.

Before I start fabbing a new one, are there different factory pivots?

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

I believe there are at least two types of pivots, a bracket with a hole/slot, and a ball-type stud, sorta like the Z-bar has on either end. Maybe more than two?

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

These both have the flat blade-style pivots, retained to the b/h with two bolts. If there is only one specification for that style pivot, I should be able to modify it pretty easily (famous last words) to move it up. Of course, if I can avoid having to do that, I will be happy.

Besides, I was hoping for something that would make it seem less like I didn't know what I was doing.

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

You're out of my juris diction here. Maybe Doc would know, or look in his clutch article?

I LOVE that "seem less like I didn't know what I was doing" phrase.

Gonna make Bristol by chance? Just wondering if I should lean on you harder...

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Hello six!

What I am visualizing you saying you need seems to be what a strange fork I have was made for. In my collection of 833 parts I got from somewhere a fork whose end outside the bell is bent upward (or downward) a bit from the horizontal line of the center of the fork. I always thought it had been abused, but it has no evidence of abuse. Is it possible there was one made with a slight crook? I have several of each of the ball and slip types, so know what the regular fork looks like.

a regular email will get you a pic.

rock
'64d100

Lou, thanks for the encouragement, but I can't get to out-of state races at this point. Maybe next year...

PM, rock!

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

OK, I will stop leaning...

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

There ARE different slotted pivots. The angle of the attachment is different.

I learned this the hard way years ago, but I don't know which you need or have.

Confirmed! Went to visit rock, and he provided a "truck" pivot that is almost an inch higher than the other style. I installed it today and it brought the fork up right where it should be.
Thanks rock!
I took a picture of them with my cell phone; I'll see if I can get it to post here.

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

Great! I need to get a ride in that thing one of these days...

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Yeah, me too

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston