1965 Clutch Release Parts

[Brian Monticello]

Can't seem to get my cluch adjusted and need to check parts. This is for a 1965 327 with a 403 bellhousing and a muncie M21. I cannot find a point at which the TO Bearing is not touching the pressure plate fingers AND the clutch pedal can be pushed down far enough to engage the clutch. It's almost as if the clutch pedal doesn't have enough travel.

Here are the parts I ordered.
stud ball - 3729000 - installed
Clutch Release Fork - 3887177 - installed

Clutch Release Rod - 3872960 -(wouldn't fit so I used the longer one that was in the car - shown below). The AIM shows rod 3844209 so I obviously purchased the wrong rod.

Can anyone verify the part #'s for the stud ball and fork? Page E158 in the AIM has the details but I cannot find the part #s.

Thanks,
brian

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Clutch Release Parts

Brian----

The clutch fork ball stud GM #3729000 and fork GM #3887177 are the applicable parts for your car. You also require the longer push rod, GM #3844209 which is still available from GM.

The above assumes that the other parts of the installation are the correct parts, too. The cross shaft should be GM #3832857. Unfortunately, this number is found nowhere on the part and the various 63-81 cross shafts are very hard to distinguish from one another. The pedal push rod needs to be GM #3819154 (original part which is 18" long) or GM #3888213 (SERVICE replacement which is 19-3/16" long).

Also, the clutch and release bearing have to be right for the application. No GM clutch is available for your application so part numbers are moot. The current release bearing is GM #15680264. This bearing is 1-1/4" long. The original bearing was 1-7/32" long, but these are no longer available and are replaced by the 1-1/4" long bearing. Whatever brand bearing you use, it MUST be the 1-1/4" long bearing. Parts suppliers have a propensity for supplying a longer 1-7/8" bearing for Chevrolet applications. Many applications do use this longer bearing, BUT NOT CORVETTES after 1955.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Clutch Release Parts

Brian----

The clutch fork ball stud GM #3729000 and fork GM #3887177 are the applicable parts for your car. You also require the longer push rod, GM #3844209 which is still available from GM.

The above assumes that the other parts of the installation are the correct parts, too. The cross shaft should be GM #3832857. Unfortunately, this number is found nowhere on the part and the various 63-81 cross shafts are very hard to distinguish from one another. The pedal push rod needs to be GM #3819154 (original part which is 18" long) or GM #3888213 (SERVICE replacement which is 19-3/16" long).

Also, the clutch and release bearing have to be right for the application. No GM clutch is available for your application so part numbers are moot. The current release bearing is GM #15680264. This bearing is 1-1/4" long. The original bearing was 1-7/32" long, but these are no longer available and are replaced by the 1-1/4" long bearing. Whatever brand bearing you use, it MUST be the 1-1/4" long bearing. Parts suppliers have a propensity for supplying a longer 1-7/8" bearing for Chevrolet applications. Many applications do use this longer bearing, BUT NOT CORVETTES after 1955.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 Clutch Release Parts

Brian,

The correct original clutch fork for your 65 was a 3844493, not the later replacement 3887177. The 493 was discontinued in Feb of 67 and serviced with the 177 which was the correct arm for 66 and 67. This could be, and probably is, part of the problem that you are having. There was and still is a great deal of confusion about what is correct for these cars. The 63-65 pivot ball is listed as a 3729000 and is 13/16" OL. The parts book lists a different pivot ball, 3887159, for 66-67 that was to be used with the 177 arm but there is no dimension listed.

I would compare all of the original parts to the new parts that you are trying to install and see what the difference is. I suspect that if you use the later 177 replacement arm, you would also have to use the matching 159 ball.

Michael

Both of the arm part numbers were listed as "Corvette Only" so finding an original 493 would be difficult. If you still have the original and it's usable, I would consider it.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 Clutch Release Parts

Brian,

The correct original clutch fork for your 65 was a 3844493, not the later replacement 3887177. The 493 was discontinued in Feb of 67 and serviced with the 177 which was the correct arm for 66 and 67. This could be, and probably is, part of the problem that you are having. There was and still is a great deal of confusion about what is correct for these cars. The 63-65 pivot ball is listed as a 3729000 and is 13/16" OL. The parts book lists a different pivot ball, 3887159, for 66-67 that was to be used with the 177 arm but there is no dimension listed.

I would compare all of the original parts to the new parts that you are trying to install and see what the difference is. I suspect that if you use the later 177 replacement arm, you would also have to use the matching 159 ball.

Michael

Both of the arm part numbers were listed as "Corvette Only" so finding an original 493 would be difficult. If you still have the original and it's usable, I would consider it.