clutch fork arm finish?

[Brandon T.]

What finish would be on 68 clutch fork arm and linkage?

thanks

[Brandon T.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

I blasted it earlier kinda need to get something on it. My judging manual really doesn't spell it out good at all.

it's on 68 l36 if that matters.

just want to go with the right finish and what finish is on the spring etc too.

thanks

[Brandon T.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

anyone? ttt

[Jim T.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

Brandon my original owner 68's clutch fork and linkage is the original deal and has never been cleaned or reconditioned, I am no help unless the description looks like unpainted steel helps.
Have a new clutch linkage from the clutch fork to the arm somewhere in the garage I bought 25 years ago that would take a lot of searching to find it.

[Brandon T.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

Brandon my original owner 68's clutch fork and linkage is the original deal and has never been cleaned or reconditioned, I am no help unless the description looks like unpainted steel helps.
Have a new clutch linkage from the clutch fork to the arm somewhere in the garage I bought 25 years ago that would take a lot of searching to find it.

Thanks for the reply. I have already bead blasted it do you think it will rust?

[Duke W.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

The clutch fork is definately "natural", and I believe that also applies to the upper and lower pushrods, but he cross shaft is plated.

Duke

[Brandon T.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

so with me already having it bead blasted what should I do? will it not just rust right away with it bead blasted and all natural? does it still have a zinc coating or whatever on it?

not sure what to do I want to it look correct but won't it just RUST up really quick or no?

[Mike L.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

I use a very high speed heavy duty wire wheel. If you use a stiff enough one it sort of "burnishes" the part, hardening the surface and making it look more natural, getting rid of that flat finish caused by the bead blasting.
Keep in mind it needs to be an industrial type wheel. A drill driven one won't cut it. Many plating or machine shops have them.

[Mike L.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

To keep it from rusting you can firmly rub a little oil into the part. A light-light clear coat can be unnoticeable if done right. But you must either use high quality epoxy type clear or none at all. i advise strongly against spray can type clears on anything as they eventually look worse than nothing at all.

[Mike L.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

......clarification: just don't try oiling and clear coating

[Michael H.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

......clarification: just don't try oiling and clear coating

Wouldn't the top and forward face of that arm have received a pretty decent shot of orange overspray from the engine paint operation?

[Page C.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

I had aways thought that the clutch fork was installed prior to engine paint. Have several pictures of bow tie cars and all have engine paint on bellhousing and clutch fork but not on the rubber boot. These are midyear cars so maybe there was a change in 1968 and up.
Regards,
Page Campbell

[John H.]

Re: clutch fork arm finish?

Wouldn't the top and forward face of that arm have receiced a pretty decent shot of orange overspray from the engine paint operation?

Michael -

Yes, the fork would have at least some orange overspray, maybe more, and the rubber boot would not (it was installed at St. Louis).