All Small Six Lower Clutch Rod Release Lever and Spring - Need Some Help

[65MustangI6]

Looking for some assistance regarding the lower clutch rod release lever and spring.

I have a 1964.5 Mustang with a 200ci engine, 3-speed manual transmission. The original engine was swapped out prior to me owning it with a 1968 200ci from a Falcon (if I'm reading my codes correctly). In either case, I don't have the lower clutch rod release lever and spring and would like to purchase a new one. I may have found the correct release lever, but I'm not 100% sure as both the ones I've found on NPD or CJ Pony show it's for the V8 and they don't mention anything about the I6. Furthermore, I'm confused about the spring as the Ford manual exploded view of the clutch shows that prior to 8/17/64 one end of the spring attaches to the clutch fork, but I can't tell where the other end of the spring connects.

The clutch is 9" with the flat flywheel. As they say, a picture is worth a 1,000 words, so I've included some photos to highlight what I'm referring to. My Z bar has one post for the clutch release lever, but that's all - no holes for the spring. The distance from the Z-bar post to the clutch fork is about 6" when the clutch is in the neutral position and approximately 5" if the clutch were engaged.

Any help clarifying the correct parts and spring mounting locations would be extremely appreciated. Photos would be great if you have those to.

Thanks in advance!

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, I just got time to look under my 66 Bronco.
I can't imagine that the setup in a car would be much different.
The return spring goes to the cross member.
The push rod had to be lengthend after a new clutch and flywheel resurface. Good luck

 

[DON]

in case you haven’t run across this yet, I think this is the rod you were looking for. From Classic Industries

 

[powerband]

the early cars had the stud on the Z bar and later had a hole for the adjustable push rod with post on the rod like above pic'. Early Zbars and later Zbars are interchangeable but will require accommodating for suitable pushrod. I added an old ball bearing to get the correct length to the early non-adjustable pushrod .
.
... swapped in a later Toploader BH/Clutch in the '63, the Zbar neeeded the geometry changed and more level to the Throwout arm for better pedal travel and clutch in/out. Later Zbars have the Zbar fulcrum geometry closer to the pivot resulting in less travel and more pressure. This works great for Diaphragm clutch and Toploader FW. Early cars had length adjustments on the rod from cabin clutch pedal to the Zbar. Improper adjustments or mixed parts often cause the pedal to not want to fully return all the way up. Not clear which cars have the over-center spring under dash to assist return.
.
71 Maverick and '61 Zbars ...
.. . . .
.
have 3 pedal fun

 

[motopsycha]

I just did this assembly (adding a clutch pedal and z-bar) on a 66 mustang this weeekend. Similar to the pick of the Bronco setup above, there is a spring going from the clutch fork to the shock tower. There is a slot and hole near the base of the chock tower and a 14" long spring that attaches there. I know the shop manual says it's only for V8 cars but it worked well on my six.

This spring really helps the pedal return to the up position as it should.

 

[65MustangI6]

Hi, I just got time to look under my 66 Bronco.
I can't imagine that the setup in a car would be much different.
The return spring goes to the cross member.
The push rod had to be lengthend after a new clutch and flywheel resurface. Good luck

Thanks for the photos. I plan to crawl under there this weekend and will look to see if the Mustang has a similar set up. I appreciate the response.

 

[65MustangI6]

in case you haven’t run across this yet, I think this is the rod you were looking for. From Classic Industries

Thanks Don for the information. I think this is for a different set up than the one I have. My Z-bar does not have a hole in the end of it but rather a stud and a small hole through the stud. From my research I think the clutch rod slips over the post and is held in place with a hitch pin. Nevertheless, thanks for the information as I did not have it and if I'm wrong I'm glad to have options. Thanks again.

 

[65MustangI6]

the early cars had the stud on the Z bar and later had a hole for the adjustable push rod with post on the rod like above pic'. Early Zbars and later Zbars are interchangeable but will require accommodating for suitable pushrod. I added an old ball bearing to get the correct length to the early non-adjustable pushrod .
.
... swapped in a later Toploader BH/Clutch in the '63, the Zbar neeeded the geometry changed and more level to the Throwout arm for better pedal travel and clutch in/out. Later Zbars have the Zbar fulcrum geometry closer to the pivot resulting in less travel and more pressure. This works great for Diaphragm clutch and Toploader FW. Early cars had length adjustments on the rod from cabin clutch pedal to the Zbar. Improper adjustments or mixed parts often cause the pedal to not want to fully return all the way up. Not clear which cars have the over-center spring under dash to assist return.
.
71 Maverick and '61 Zbars ...
.. . . .
.
have 3 pedal fun

Thanks for the photos powerband. The one photo with the two different Z-bars is very helpful as I can clearly see the difference between the two. My Z-bar is the red one in that photo without the zerk fitting in the center pivot portion of the bracket. I was thinking I didn't need to modify anything and just purchase an off the shelf adjustable clutch rod. It looks like that may not be the case and I'll have to experiment a bit to get the clutch feel and travel I'm looking for. Appreciate the help!

 

[65MustangI6]

I just did this assembly (adding a clutch pedal and z-bar) on a 66 mustang this weeekend. Similar to the pick of the Bronco setup above, there is a spring going from the clutch fork to the shock tower. There is a slot and hole near the base of the chock tower and a 14" long spring that attaches there. I know the shop manual says it's only for V8 cars but it worked well on my six.

This spring really helps the pedal return to the up position as it should.

Okay, that's good to know motopsycha. I'm working on the car this weekend so I'll check out the shock tower location. It's becoming obvious that I was looking for a spring clip location too close to the clutch fork and Z-bar and need to look closer to the cross member and shock tower like you and B RON CO mentioned. Thanks for the guidance!

 

[awasson]

I just took some photos from the engine compartment and underside of my 66 Mustang. It came with a Top Loader 3-Speed and I’ve converted to a T5 but from the bell housing forwards, it’s all original. Hopefully these are clear enough to help out.