'57 Clutch return spring - NCRS Discussion Boards

'57 Clutch return spring

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  • Rex P Kelly

    '57 Clutch return spring

    I am doing finishing touches to my '57 and have run into a snag on the clutch return spring. Is there any simple way, other than brute strength, to get the thing hooked up. There is NO way that I can stretch it to fit. I am pretty sure that I have the correct hardware with the brackets and hairpin clips. Thanks, see you in Ashville...
  • Christopher R.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • March 31, 1975
    • 1599

    #2
    Re: '57 Clutch return spring

    I did mine with brute strength and much cursing.

    A suggestion by somebody smarter than me was to stretch the spring by inserting washers or coins in between the turns of the coils.

    Whatever you do, wear safety ggoggles or glasses.

    Comment

    • Christopher R.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • March 31, 1975
      • 1599

      #3
      Re: '57 Clutch return spring

      I did mine with brute strength and much cursing.

      A suggestion by somebody smarter than me was to stretch the spring by inserting washers or coins in between the turns of the coils.

      Whatever you do, wear safety ggoggles or glasses.

      Comment

      • Richard E.
        Expired
        • November 1, 1976
        • 200

        #4
        Re: '57 Clutch return spring

        Rex- I've done this a few times on the 62. First was brute strength with the radiator out and the help of a 82nd Airborne flat belly. (Just pulled on it from the front) Thinking back, probably not the safest way. The next times were using a home made tool described in the Summer 87 Restorer. 'Twas a piece of cake (but STILL use safety glasses). This tool is basically a "turnbuckle" design that hooks to an existing hole in the frame, with the other end to the spring, coutesy of Joe Calcagno. Shouldn't cost $1-$2 in parts with about 10 seconds of welding. Have fun.......

        Comment

        • Richard E.
          Expired
          • November 1, 1976
          • 200

          #5
          Re: '57 Clutch return spring

          Rex- I've done this a few times on the 62. First was brute strength with the radiator out and the help of a 82nd Airborne flat belly. (Just pulled on it from the front) Thinking back, probably not the safest way. The next times were using a home made tool described in the Summer 87 Restorer. 'Twas a piece of cake (but STILL use safety glasses). This tool is basically a "turnbuckle" design that hooks to an existing hole in the frame, with the other end to the spring, coutesy of Joe Calcagno. Shouldn't cost $1-$2 in parts with about 10 seconds of welding. Have fun.......

          Comment

          • don whitehead

            #6
            Re: '57 Clutch return spring

            I had a devil of a time with my '60 spring. Found I was missing a swivel tab that connected the top of the spring with the arm. Does not show in the assembly manual well. I was stretching it an inch more than it was supposed to go. Yipes. Make sure you have that tab.

            Comment

            • don whitehead

              #7
              Re: '57 Clutch return spring

              I had a devil of a time with my '60 spring. Found I was missing a swivel tab that connected the top of the spring with the arm. Does not show in the assembly manual well. I was stretching it an inch more than it was supposed to go. Yipes. Make sure you have that tab.

              Comment

              • Rex P Kelly

                #8
                Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                It is my understanding that on a '57, the spring hooks onto a hairpin like clip on the frame bracket and to another hairpin like clip that is attached to a bracket on the clutch cross shaft. I do not think that like on a '58 there are any other connectors. Is this correct??

                Comment

                • Rex P Kelly

                  #9
                  Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                  It is my understanding that on a '57, the spring hooks onto a hairpin like clip on the frame bracket and to another hairpin like clip that is attached to a bracket on the clutch cross shaft. I do not think that like on a '58 there are any other connectors. Is this correct??

                  Comment

                  • Bernie Schneider

                    #10
                    Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                    The simplest way I've found is to hook the spring to both eye hooks with the cross shaft lever on the bellhousing not mounted and the clutch push rod disconnected. With the spring hooked on both ends, attach the cross shaft to the frame tower ball and stick the ball end of the cross shaft bell housing mount into the cross shaft and then mount the lever on the bell housing. Use a crescent wrench to move the cross shaft assembly away from the firewall enough to install the clutch push rod.
                    It sounds complicated and does take two people to hook up the clutch push rod, but it really works well with little stress. Good luck.

                    Comment

                    • Bernie Schneider

                      #11
                      Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                      The simplest way I've found is to hook the spring to both eye hooks with the cross shaft lever on the bellhousing not mounted and the clutch push rod disconnected. With the spring hooked on both ends, attach the cross shaft to the frame tower ball and stick the ball end of the cross shaft bell housing mount into the cross shaft and then mount the lever on the bell housing. Use a crescent wrench to move the cross shaft assembly away from the firewall enough to install the clutch push rod.
                      It sounds complicated and does take two people to hook up the clutch push rod, but it really works well with little stress. Good luck.

                      Comment

                      • John H.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • December 1, 1997
                        • 16513

                        #12
                        Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                        Rex -

                        Correct - '56-'57 use a hairpin clip at both ends - the oval tab at the cross shaft end started in '58. BTW, there's a nice photo of your (pretty) car on page 47 of the June issue of "Vette" magazine.

                        Comment

                        • John H.
                          Beyond Control Poster
                          • December 1, 1997
                          • 16513

                          #13
                          Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                          Rex -

                          Correct - '56-'57 use a hairpin clip at both ends - the oval tab at the cross shaft end started in '58. BTW, there's a nice photo of your (pretty) car on page 47 of the June issue of "Vette" magazine.

                          Comment

                          • Rex P Kelly

                            #14
                            Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                            Thanks to all the contributing members. The spring went on today with little trouble and works great....

                            Comment

                            • Rex P Kelly

                              #15
                              Re: '57 Clutch return spring

                              Thanks to all the contributing members. The spring went on today with little trouble and works great....

                              Comment

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