Re: Clutch Return or Not!

[Dale Pearman]

Diaphram type clutch pressure plates, AKA ankle breakers, even when adjusted correctly, which is your problem, SUCK! When launching at stop lights, on the way for groceries, these clutch/pressure plate combinations sometimes stick on the floor (at rpm) and fly upwards with great force unpredictably. If the pedal catches your ankle, serious injury results. I always use a borg-beck, long, or combination style pressure plate. McCloud makes some really high quality versions as does centerforce.

Varooom!

[Dave - NCRS#24235]

I love Bellville spring pressure plates!

I love 11 inch Bellville spring (diaphram type) pressure plate assemblies. In my 66, they provide great uniform clamping pressure with low effort - which is what is needed with the linkage in the low (fast shift) position.

I have never owned an older Corvette with an over-center spring, but I would bet that the stock set up (with the engine and transmission correctly mounted and all linkage bushings replaced) would work fine. I drove and raced Chrysler products in the sixties, and they used over-center springs. The stuck-to-the-floor problem inevitably turned out to be a bad adjustment or a worn part - neither of which should be tolerated in a performance machine. - Dave