C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

[Donald H.]

The clutch pedal on my car is a replacement for sure, and I also believe the bracket bolted to it that the rod attaches to is also a replacement.

I searching the TDB I found a picture from David Liukkonen of an original and this raised a question.

I have attached a picture of three brackets, two reproductions and the original. The bracket on the right is an original part number 3872963 which is the part number in the 66 AIM (UPC-7 C2). Note the the clutch rod pin is located higher up and there is a hole just below and a little to the left of it.


The one on the left is a LIC repro for 65-66 396/427. Note the pin location, i.e. higher up, and no second hole.


The one in the middle is LIC repro for 63-66 327. Note the pin location further down and no second hole.


From the research I have found on the TDB, the 3872963 was used for both BB and SB, at least for a late 66. My question is, in the original 3872963, was the pin relocated as needed? If so how was the pin attached that allowed it to be relocated? Was it treaded or pressed in?

Thanks,
DonClutch pedal bracket.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

The clutch pedal on my car is a replacement for sure, and I also believe the bracket bolted to it that the rod attaches to is also a replacement.

I searching the TDB I found a picture from David Liukkonen of an original and this raised a question.

I have attached a picture of three brackets, two reproductions and the original. The bracket on the right is an original part number 3872963 which is the part number in the 66 AIM (UPC-7 C2). Note the the clutch rod pin is located higher up and there is a hole just below and a little to the left of it.


The one on the left is a LIC repro for 65-66 396/427. Note the pin location, i.e. higher up, and no second hole.


The one in the middle is LIC repro for 63-66 327. Note the pin location further down and no second hole.


From the research I have found on the TDB, the 3872963 was used for both BB and SB, at least for a late 66. My question is, in the original 3872963, was the pin relocated as needed? If so how was the pin attached that allowed it to be relocated? Was it treaded or pressed in?

Thanks,
Don[ATTACH=CONFIG]58615[/ATTACH]

Don------


The LI reproduction on the left looks the same to me as the original one on the right except that the original has the additional hole. I expect that the original bracket had both holes so that the clevis pin could be factory installed in either location depending upon the intended part number of the finished assembly. I believe these clevis pins were attached via welding to the bracket; they were definitely not designed to be field "changeable" as to hole.

[Donald H.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Thanks Joe,

That makes sense.

[Patrick B.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

If 3872963 was used for BB and SB, and it looks like the BB repro, what car was the SB repro type used for?

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

If 3872963 was used for BB and SB, and it looks like the BB repro, what car was the SB repro type used for?

Patrick------


The GM #3872963 bracket was applicable to 1965-66 Corvette big blocks. 1963-66 Corvette small blocks used bracket GM #3819152. However, the 1966 AIM indicates that the 3872963 bracket replaced the 3819152 bracket for small blocks sometime after the start of production. The SERVICE parts information makes no mention of this for 1966, though. SERVICE parts information specifies just as I have described in the first two sentences of this response. So, was the 3872963 actually used for both big block and small block after early 1966? I do not know.

[Patrick B.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Patrick------


The GM #3872963 bracket was applicable to 1965-66 Corvette big blocks. 1963-66 Corvette small blocks used bracket GM #3819152. However, the 1966 AIM indicates that the 3872963 bracket replaced the 3819152 bracket for small blocks sometime after the start of production. The SERVICE parts information makes no mention of this for 1966, though. SERVICE parts information specifies just as I have described in the first two sentences of this response. So, was the 3872963 actually used for both big block and small block after early 1966? I do not know.

Too bad about the ambiguity. It seemed like it could be a very subtle indicator of original BB cars. What was used in 67?

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Too bad about the ambiguity. It seemed like it could be a very subtle indicator of original BB cars. What was used in 67?

Patrick------


1967 used a bracket that was welded to the clutch pedal shaft and was the same for all engine options. This bracket was supplied only as part of the clutch pedal assembly from GM in SERVICE and was not available separately. However, I think it is available separately in reproduction.

The 1967 design and the 1968-81 design which used a clevis pin welded directly to the pedal shaft was a BIG REGRESSION from 63-66. With the 63-66 design one can replace the clevis pin simply by replacing the bracket with the pedal still mounted in the car. The clevis pin often wears due to lack of lubrication. With the 1967 and 68-81 design, the pedal has to be removed from the car in order to replace the clevis pin. This is a BIG PIA job just to replace a worn clevis pin. You absolutely don't want this pin to break in service.

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

FWIW, here's an eBay purchase that I knew I had somewhere in my basement. Pin in small block location.

IMO, the welded head on the pin was not during '65-6 production (pressed-in only), but started in service (along with welding of clutch pedal to shaft) as complaints were heard.327 clutch bracket.jpgsb clutch brkt.jpgC2clutchmap.jpg

[Donald H.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

FWIW, here's an eBay purchase that I knew I had somewhere in my basement. Pin in small block location.

IMO, the welded head on the pin was not during '65-6 production (pressed-in only), but started in service (along with welding of clutch pedal to shaft) as complaints were heard.[ATTACH=CONFIG]58757[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]58758[/ATTACH]

That looks more like the current reproductions.

Thank,
Don

[David L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

I found another original "early" 66 clutch fork bracket, GM # 3872963, on eBay (and as shown in the top photo) with the extra clevis pin hole that was used on the 1965 clutch fork bracket, GM # 3819152. At or near the end of the 1965 production and the beginning of the 1966 production they must have made the bracket with 2 clevis pin holes so that it could be used on both years depending on where the clevis pin was placed. The bracket on eBay is missing the clevis pin. You can see where it was because of the rust around the hole.
The bottom photo is my original 1966 Corvette (Feb. 1966) clutch fork bracket. The clevis pin was worn so I bought a new bracket at my local Chevrolet dealer in the early 1980's.

Is this even mentioned in the 1965 or 1966 judging manuals for late 1965 and early 1966 models?
Dave

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-63-66-CORVETTE-CLUTCH-PEDAL-PUSH-ROD-BRACKET/183759100463

[Leif A.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

What's the best lube for the clevis pin? How often should it be lubed?

[Mike B.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Hello Guys,

Just wanted to post some pics of my '66's original clutch bracket. I've since had the wear damage repaired and bracket restored by a good NCRS buddy. My '66 is a December 1st, 1965 built 427/390hp car. My bracket is a dead ringer for the one in David Liukkonen's photo in the 1st post to Don's thread here.

You can see the chaffing to the bracket and wear to the pin that the clutch rod caused. The original "RBW" bolt's head was ground halfway down by the time I removed this bracket. Tough to find that bolt! I've just recently found another real one.

Always good to see what a used original part looks like. Mike

Clutch Bracket #72XX Original (1).jpgClutch Bracket #72XX Original (2).jpgClutch Bracket #72XX Original (3).jpgClutch Bracket #72XX Original (4).jpgClutch Bracket #72XX Original (5).jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Actually, 1963-67 Corvettes have a better system for the clutch rod pin than later. As shown, for the C2 years the bracket with the pin was attached to the clutch pedal shaft with bolts. So, if the pin needed to be replaced one could remove the bracket from the pedal shaft without the need to remove the pedal from the car and either replace the entire bracket or just replace the pin on the bracket and re-install it. For 1968-81, things changed. For these years, the pin was attached directly to the clutch pedal shaft. So, if the pin needs to be replaced, the clutch pedal has to be removed from the car.

[David L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Mike,
I have tried to find a clevis pin (5/16" X 5/8" effective length with 0.60" dia. head) exactly like the one on my bracket without any success. I have found pins that are the correct length but the head size is only 0.45"in dia., close but no cigar as the saying goes.

Leif,
I just used a small dab of wheel bearing grease on the clevis pin. I thinks that I have only driven my 1966 about 2,000 miles since I finished my 15 year restoration in 1995. It collects a lot of dust in my garage.
Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 / 66 Clutch Rod Bracket

Mike,
I have tried to find a clevis pin (5/16" X 5/8" effective length with 0.60" dia. head) exactly like the one on my bracket without any success. I have found pins that are the correct length but the head size is only 0.45"in dia., close but no cigar as the saying goes.

Leif,
I just used a small dab of wheel bearing grease on the clevis pin. I thinks that I have only driven my 1966 about 2,000 miles since I finished my 15 year restoration in 1995. It collects a lot of dust in my garage.
Dave

Dave-----


I do not see why the head diameter is all that critical. With the pin welded to the pedal shaft, the OD of the pin head is pretty much irrelevant. For the most part, it would not even be discernible once welded.

By the way, whether original or not, there is absolutely no way that I would be comfortable with this pin affixed to the bracket by any means other than welding