C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

[Chuck W.]

Can anyone tell me when the clutch rod retainer and seal moved from inside the car on the firewall to the engine compartment side of the firewall? AIMS for 56/57 show it inside, 58, 59, & 60 are vague but appear inside, 62 AIMS shows it on the engine side of the firewall.

I am referring to the felt seal and cage retainer assembly that is held in place with 2 screws.

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Chuck, 55 V/8 3 speed clutch rod retainer and felt were on inside. 56-7 were on the engine side of the firewall. Gary....

[Pierre J.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Can anyone tell me when the clutch rod retainer and seal moved from inside the car on the firewall to the engine compartment side of the firewall? AIMS for 56/57 show it inside, 58, 59, & 60 are vague but appear inside, 62 AIMS shows it on the engine side of the firewall.

I am referring to the felt seal and cage retainer assembly that is held in place with 2 screws.

All the clutch rod seals that I have seen were on the engine side of the firewall, including both my '56 and '57.

Pierre
34410

[Chuck W.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

All the clutch rod seals that I have seen were on the engine side of the firewall, including both my '56 and '57.

Pierre
34410

Pierre & Gary,

Here is my dilema... We have a '58 in the shop right now that the fellow has owned since 1959. The car is a January build and the clutch rod seal was installed on the inside of the firewall. Could be because it is an early car before it was moved to the engine side but I'd like some conformation of change date. There is an obvious rust stain around the cage outline on the inside where it had been for a long long time. The 56/57 AIM also shows it on the inside but the 58 AIM is vague and only shows the screws from the inside which would mean the cage would have to be on the inside.

In addition I have a '60 here that has a definite outline of the cage on the inside surface of the firewall. Receive the car without the retainer but the rust outline is definitely showing an inside mount.

Not disputing what you guys are saying, I'd just don't understand the discrepency to the AIMS and the 2 cars that I have here. Any thoughts? Can you give me any references? I've looked through Nolan's book and other than the AIMS I really can't get a clear change date.

The crazy thing is that my personal 56, 58, 60, 61, and two 62's are all on the engine side. I did the 58 & 60 and one 62 is original. The rest were restored at some point in their lives elsewhere.

Gary, do you know why they were changed from the inside to the engine side?

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Chuck, have two different versions of the 57 AIM's they both show the square edge of the clutch felt retaining bracket on the engine side of the firewall. Dotted line indicates the felt is under the retainer. Picture from the earlier version of an AIM courtesy of Russ Uzes is attached. Guess the reason for the change was service ability, keeping water on the engine side and appearance. Gary....

[Chuck W.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Chuck, have two different versions of the 57 AIM's they both show the square edge of the clutch felt retaining bracket on the engine side of the firewall. Dotted line indicates the felt is under the retainer. Picture from the earlier version of an AIM courtesy of Russ Uzes is attached. Guess the reason for the change was service ability, keeping water on the engine side and appearance. Gary....

Gary,

Unless I'm seeing something wrong. This picture shows the retainer and screws from the inside of the car through the firewall. Note screws are pointed through the firewall with screw heads on the inside of the vehicle. Since the retainer screws attached only to the fiberglass, the retainer would have to be on the same side as the screw heads or it would fall off. Am I missing something? The 62 AIM sclearly shows the screws the other direction and the retainer on the engine side. I willl scan and post the different pictures that I've been looking at tomorrow when I get back to the shop.

I interpreted the dotted lines as indicating that the retainer was behind the firewall.

[Chuck W.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Attached are the various photos and scans from the AIMS identifying the clutch rod seal retainer.

http://albums.phanfare.com/4788455/2122456_3892346#imageID=62948469

Note: The 60 AIM the picture is sectioned to show the retainer and seal. The screws, lockwasher, and flat washer appear to be installed from the cockpit side of the firewall.

The 62 AIM picture clearly shows the retainer and seal on the engine side of the firewall with the screws, lockwasher, and flat washer attaching from the engine side.

Photos of the 58 & 60 that show signs (rust) that the retainer was attached on the cockpit side of the firewall.

Can anyone confirm the location by year from original, unmolested cars? My unrestored 62 has the retainer on the engine side of the firewall.

Any evidence would be appreciated. Thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Chuck, quoting Mr. Dick Robinson a very known and highly respected C1 restorer; "56-7 clutch rod seal & retainers were on the engine firewall side and in 1958 they were changed back to the interior side". Gary....

[Chuck W.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

Chuck, quoting Mr. Dick Robinson a very known and highly respected C1 restorer; "56-7 clutch rod seal & retainers were on the engine firewall side and in 1958 they were changed back to the interior side". Gary....

Thanks Gary, that explains what I am seeing. Does Dick Robinson know when they were changed to the engine side again and what the reasons were for the changes?

[John H.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

My '57 (#4275) was unrestored when I got it, and the seal and retainer were on the engine side of the firewall.

[Chuck W.]

Re: C1 Clutch rod seal & retainer

My '57 (#4275) was unrestored when I got it, and the seal and retainer were on the engine side of the firewall.

Thanks John. My '56 also has it on the engine side. It appears that in '58 they moved the retainer and seal to the cockpit side for some reason. Further it looks from what I am seeing on the '60 that I am working on that it also was on the inside. My unrestored '62 has it back on the engine side matching the AIM's. I have been unable to understand why the change occurred in '58 and then why the change back and exctly when.