possibly the funnest upgrade ive done

[Runner]

ive done some stuff that i really enjoyed , converter swaps, new engines 3.23s to 3.91s to 4.57s  and so on. pulling my mid 12 second 383 out and putting in my 11.30s 452 in my 71 raodrunner would have to rate right up there.   but i finished up my 4 speed conversion on my 68 satellite last saturday and wow is the car diffferent. this tops my list.  in alot of ways its more exciting to drive the hi 13 second 383 4 speed than the 11 second 452 auto.    thanks for listening  just wanted to share my excitment.

[RECHRGD]

Your right Mike.  Nothing beats banging through the gears.  But, at my advanced age, I enjoy not having to deal with a clutch in traffic.   Bob

[Silver R/T]

manual is always more fun that auto, unless you're stuck in a traffic and have 500+hp car

[Ghoste]

Or bad knees. 

[firefighter3931]

Don't worry Mike....the excitement will soon pass when the novelty wears off   

I like stick cars, definately fun to drive....it's the parts breakage with high Hp/Tq that i can't handle. 

It does change the feel of the car....no doubt about that ! 




Ron

[Brock Samson]

manual is always more fun that auto, unless you're stuck in a traffic and have 500+hp car

that would be me..
    and don't forget hills...

[PocketThunder]

manual is always more fun that auto, unless you're stuck in a traffic and have 500+hp car

that would be me..
    and don't forget hills...

Why are you holding a yellow bag? 

[Charger_Fan]

manual is always more fun that auto, unless you're stuck in a traffic and have 500+hp car

that would be me..
    and don't forget hills...

Why are you holding a yellow bag? 

That's all the goodies he scooped up after the last guy lost it going over that hill.

[Brock Samson]

  hubcaps

[BrianShaughnessy]

    and don't forget hills...

That's why they invented the line lock     well, that's my story - and I'm sticking to it 

[Runner]

ron,  thats why the 4 speed went into the satellite instead of the roadrunner.  i considered it for the roadrunner but i thought a dana would probably be a must in that application. along with a real expensive clutch, an upgrade to 1350 u joints.    im hoping the pig satellite doesnt make enough power to hurt anything.

    lots of hills here in lewiston idaho, but that hanst been a problem.   so far the only down side has been the chrome on the pistol grip after work is hot! i drive this car daily unless its snowing or i need my pickup for something afterwork.

   i have a ram borg and beck clutch in it right now but i think it will have a df centerforce in it by spring.  my understanding is the cf has a lighter pedal even with out the overcenter spring?   the pedal isnt terrible, but is stiffer than the one in my pt criuser   lol

[Harlow]

do you have any pictures of your 68 satellite? Is it a sport satellite?

[firefighter3931]

   i have a ram borg and beck clutch in it right now but i think it will have a df centerforce in it by spring.  my understanding is the cf has a lighter pedal even with out the overcenter spring?   the pedal isnt terrible, but is stiffer than the one in my pt criuser   lol

Yep, the CF dual friction clutches require less "legwork" allthough some don't like them on high HP applications. I don't see a CF clutch being an issue with a mild 383 cruiser type build, but i'm no expert either. 


Ron

[Mike DC]

   
I'm kinda surprised we haven't seen more power-assisted clutch setups.  Not specifically old Mopars, just powerful cars in general.  The hydraulic deals beat the cable-operated ones by a mile but it's still not a true power assist.  They already PS EVERYTHING else on modern cars, including stuff that's a lot less important.

Seems like the could do something like the "hydroboost" deals on the power brakes that utilize the power steering fluid pressure.  Put that on a clutch pedal, shorten the pedal-travel to what's really comfortable, and stop compromising the clutch itself for reduced pedal effort . . . best of everything.

 

[BrianShaughnessy]

   
I'm kinda surprised we haven't seen more power-assisted clutch setups.  Not specifically old Mopars, just powerful cars in general.  The hydraulic deals beat the cable-operated ones by a mile but it's still not a true power assist.  They already PS EVERYTHING else on modern cars, including stuff that's a lot less important.

Seems like the could do something like the "hydroboost" deals on the power brakes that utilize the power steering fluid pressure.  Put that on a clutch pedal, shorten the pedal-travel to what's really comfortable, and stop compromising the clutch itself for reduced pedal effort . . . best of everything.

 

   I've heard people complain about lack of feel with hydraulics.    And some people are resistant to change cause Z bars are all they know or that's what the car came with.
   
   I see more chebbie based folks building hot rods and such with hydraulic setups.     I've still not seen any actual power assist clutch setups but I wasn't looking for any either.

   Frankly I prefer the GM style master / slave setup with a regular fork and plain throwout bearing.    I had lots of problems before with my Keisler hydraulic throwout setup but that was resolved with the rev. 2 hydraulics ( Wilwood master and new line with bleeder screw ).       

[Ghoste]

    and don't forget hills...

You people don't have "hills" in San Fran, those are vertical inclines.  I'm pretty sure they were just known as cliffs until you west coasters went and put pavement on them. 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Or bad knees. 

Yep - I can attest to that...    I STILL swapped in a 5-speed....    my 72 RR is a factory 4-speed car as well...     my toyota pickup is a 5-speed....     I dont own any automatic cars   

[Runner]

  i really dont have an issue with hydrolic clutches or manual linkage type.  the reason i went with the stock linkage was because of price and simplicity.   its pretty easy to weld a bracket on the frame, take out a body plug and hook up the rods up.  plus the rods, z bar amd z bar bushing kit was about 200 bucks for everything, all new parts.  the hydrolic kits ive seen are around 350 dollars and use the stock clutch fork.  the biggest rip off i think of the hole deal is the 100-135 (depending on the dealer) dollars that mopar charges for a bb clutch for. they are under 50 bucks for a sb and theres more metal on the sb fork!

  harlow,  the care is a plane jane 68 satellite,  it isnt pretty and it is daily driven. heres a pic of it right after i put the tires and wheels on it and put the 383-727 in a few years ago. http://www.pbase.com/runner1971/image/37409568   the car now has disc brakes and a 6 pack lift off hood.   weve  raced the car and it has ran a best of 13.80 at 102 mph.   i just relized i dont really have any pics of the car except for project pics  lol.

[JR]

I'd like to swap in a keisler 5 speed, but like some of you, my knees hurt just driving boring standard shift new cars sometimes. I don't think I'd fare well with whatever clutch/pressureplate a 440 would take.

[TripleBlackGator]

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