Clutch Cross Shafts

[Chuck R.]

Is there a difference between 1969 clutch cross shafts big block vs small blocks?

Chuck 32205

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Cross Shafts

Chuck-----

No there is not. ALL 1967 to 81 Corvettes with manual transmission used the same clutch cross shaft, big block, small block, or medium block.

[Chuck R.]

Re: I Win I Win

There was a heated debate over this and noe the fog has lifted.

I thought that they were the same but he said noooooooooo....

Thanks Joe I owe you a beer (or what you please) for this one.

Chuck 32205

[Joe L.]

Re: I Win I Win

Chuck-----

What the person was thinking of was 65 and 66. For those 2 years, a different clutch cross shaft WAS used for small block and big block. However, beginning in 1967, a new part number appeared and, from then on, it was "one-part-fits-all" as far as Corvette cross shafts go. The last cross shaft used on a Corvette was for the 1981 model year. All 1982's were automatic trans and for 1984-2003, an hydraulic cluch was/is used.

[Terry M.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Cross Shafts

Terry----

Dual disc clutch was standard equipment with all 1971 LS-6 with 4 speed (including ZR-2 with M-22). This unit was exactly the same as 1969 with MA-6 EXCEPT the clutch discs used 26 splines instead of the 10 splines used for 1969.

The crossshaft, GM #3888279, was the same as all other 67-81.

[Terry M.]

Re: Clutch Cross Shafts

Thanks Joe,

Good thing I didn't have anything riding on that one - I would have lost.

Terry

[Verle R.]

Re: Clutch Cross Shafts

Joe,

While working on my 65 small block I had occasion to compare the cross shaft with another small block 65. There was a significant difference in the angle of the levers, maybe 15 or 20 degrees. Enough difference that the push rod was a different length. Is that common or did one have a bigblock cross shaft?

Thank you,

Verle

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Cross Shafts

Verle-----

All 1965 small block cross shafts were supposed to be the same. However, the big block cross shafts were different. The difference was, indeed, the angular relationship between the levers. So, I expect that one of the 65s you have experience with had a big block set-up. Perhaps, it was an original big block car. Might seem strange today when the conversions usually go from small block to big block. However, in the old days, when folks got fed up with big blocks for a variety of reasons, they sometimes switched to small blocks.