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Okay, I probably should have started this two springs ago when I got the car, but it's better late then never. I figured I would let you all join me in my quest to install a new clutch. This is probably going to be the biggest job I have done on the '52 200 Deluxe, AKA "Lucille". I have never done a clutch before, so I will be learning as we go. Maybe this will be helpful to those of you out there needing to do the same.

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Let the FUN begin!!!


-Garrett

Drive shaft is out! Even with tape, the bearing caps came off. luckily the tape kept them from hitting the ground and scattering needle bearings everywhere...phew! Next, I get everything holding the tranny in disconnected. Thank goodness I'm working under the shade of an oak tree.

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Garrett, please be very careful working under "Lucille". Make sure you have her a good level work surface and jack stands securely placed. Now would be the time to collect on a favor one of your fiends owes you. Looking forward to your reports.

(o[]o)

Thanks John!

I sure will be careful, that is why the first thing I bought for my car was a cement slab. It took half of what I earned to have it poured, but it has enabled me to work safely. It will be a back breaking job, but I'm lookin' forward to working on her again. Last time I did any true work on her was probably back in June.

-Garrett

Quote:Continuing the fine tradition of "shade tree mechanics".

Quote:

Looking forward to following along Garrett, but watch out for those fiends!

Thanks Mal!

I will be continuing work Tomorrow. It is getting close to dinner time for me right now.

Got the drive shaft all cleaned up today, along with the slip yoke. No one was here at home with me, so I put off being underneath the car.

-Garrett

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For guys ona a budget and working on jackstands, here's my suggestion:

Try to avoid taking the trans out of the car unless you know it needs to for repairs. If you pop off the solenoid and governor--which you have to anyway-- you can just slide the trans straight back in the frame far enough to get it out of the clutch. Block and strap it place.
Take out the clutch and have a look. If the pressure plate is not all scored up and blue or cracked, you can reuse it. Otherwise, tell the counterman you need one for a Ford in the same diameter. Take the clutch disc down to the auto parts store, slap it on the counter and tell them you need one the same size for a Cheby.

Take a little dab of grease on your pinky and work it into the back of the pilot bearing and make sure it spins free. If the throwout bearing is doubtful, drill a small hole in the side of the sheetmetal and work a dab of grease in with your finger or a syringe. Plug the hole with some epoxy. Put it all back together and take it for a drive. That's how I did my 51 when bucks down 40K miles ago.

Thanks for the tips Ross!

I have worried about doing the clutch on my car for sometime now. I ran out of money when I bought my tires, and have been doing side jobs to pay for the clutch. If I can reuse the pressure plate, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing, that will get me out of a tight spot.


-Garrett

Finally getting back to work on the clutch, as well as posting on "Packardinfo". This weekend our house got hit by lightning, it took out internet, phone, cable, and even some TV's. All of those things can be replaced and fixed though. Didn't get much done yesterday, except for taking off the lower clutch cover, (again). Tomorrow I will try to disconnect the speedo cable, rear trans mount, and shift linkage. I will probably have to wait for Saturday to get the trans pulled out. It is completely covered in a thick sludge, and could use a little cleaning and maybe paint.

Till tomorrow,

-Garrett


P.S. Not the greatest pics, sorry.

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