Clutch problems

[1966 rocket]

Hey guys dont even know if im doing this right but I am new to this site because I am in need of some help. The other week my clutch linkage poped out of the little bracket that is riveted to the frame so i popped it back in tightened it alittle and drove off and within a day it popped off again, its been doing this for a week or so and its got to stop, I am reluctant to just tighten the crap out of it in fear of bending or breaking something. So is something broken or am i just being to scared to do it the right way?

[Wrenchbender Ret]

If the Z bar is comeing off the ball in the frame bracket, its possible the snap ring came out that holds the ball in on one end or the motor mounts are bad letting the engine shift to the side or rear up.

[awbrown]

does the ball come out of the z bar tube , or is it the threaded part that that the ball is connected to coming out of the bracket on the frame???

[1966 rocket]

The threaded part is coming out of the braket on the frame.

[padresag]

your bracket may be broken and a piece of it missing.
here is a link to a lmc page that illustrates the linkage in the top right corner. the bracket will be ghosted but visible. you will see an L shaped slot in it. Yours more than likely looks like a u now. you will have to weld a new piece in there and you will be able to go again. there is usually a locking clip that goes in behind the nut to hold it from slipping out.
ron
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cbe/full.aspx?Page=79
the usual reason for failure here is the lack of use of a grease gun!

[1966 rocket]

I Think you nailed it, the bracket looks like a u now and has a jagged edge so it probably broke off, the bracket is rivited to the frame so idk if it requires a new one or what?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 1966 rocket

I Think you nailed it, the bracket looks like a u now and has a jagged edge so it probably broke off, the bracket is rivited to the frame so idk if it requires a new one or what?

if you are lucky sometimes that broken piece stays behind the nut.
you can cut and knock the rivets out and replace with bolts. it will be easier to weld in a new piece on the bench and bolt back in than trying to weld a new piece in the truck. someone may have one. i have some kicking around somewhere
ron
I had to drive home 500 mi once when that happened to me, fixed it when I got home

[1966 rocket]

Originally Posted by padresag

if you are lucky sometimes that broken piece stays behind the nut.
you can cut and knock the rivets out and replace with bolts. it will be easier to weld in a new piece on the bench and bolt back in than trying to weld a new piece in the truck. someone may have one. i have some kicking around somewhere
ron
I had to drive home 500 mi once when that happened to me, fixed it when I got home

The piece is no longer behind the nut, i have a welder that i could weld a new peice on but how would I aquire a piece to weld on? fabricate it to fit myself?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 1966 rocket

The piece is no longer behind the nut, i have a welder that i could weld a new peice on but how would I aquire a piece to weld on? fabricate it to fit myself?

you just have to find a piece of steel the same thickness and cut to your specs. I would cut back into the bracket a bit and extend your patch into there; as it will give you a stronger bond other tha welding on just a little tab( really depends on your welding skills. make sure both sides are flush where the z-bar and the external nut rests,
the other way to do it seeing as the bracket will now bolt on and will or should ever eliminate the possibility of breaking again is to weld it up and make sure that the hole you put back in is in the right place. once you have the z-bar in place push the bracket over the protruding bolt and then bolt the bracket in place. there is a locking tab for that nut on the end of the z-bar
ron

[1966 rocket]

Originally Posted by padresag

you just have to find a piece of steel the same thickness and cut to your specs. I would cut back into the bracket a bit and extend your patch into there; as it will give you a stronger bond other tha welding on just a little tab( really depends on your welding skills. make sure both sides are flush where the z-bar and the external nut rests,
the other way to do it seeing as the bracket will now bolt on and will or should ever eliminate the possibility of breaking again is to weld it up and make sure that the hole you put back in is in the right place. once you have the z-bar in place push the bracket over the protruding bolt and then bolt the bracket in place. there is a locking tab for that nut on the end of the z-bar
ron

Awesome, Ill get on it, really appreciate it! Sounds doable.