I've had this car quite a while, and the clutch is very stiff- and I'm getting older! It appears to me the z-bar moves around a lot, and I know the return spring is incorrect, it streches around the frame! Does anyone have a copy of the factory parts book w/ illustrations showing exactly what parts are used in the z-bar and their correct order/part #s? it was orig. a 350 3 spd but now has a 400 and 4 spd. I've seen rebuild kits that show varying parts and the pic's are not clear enough for me to tell what is a steel washer, what is a felt washer, and what is I think, a nylon cup washer. Thanks in advance for any possible help!

 

www.wildaboutcars.com has the Assembly Manual scanned for the 68. It's free to join


Do a search here. gearheads78 (Richard) and mcalvo (Michael) both did recent 68's with 4 speeds. The universal bushing kits may not fit. The Z-bars for a 70-72 Olds or a Chevelle are not the same geometry as the 68 Olds. I had a 70 Olds Z-bar that was in nicer shape than the 68 one that I had but it didn't fit right.


I had a lot of time to research when I did mine and I bought bushings from McMaster Carr. I think I bought the felt washer and nylon cup washer form Year One. The eye holes at each end of the Z-Bars have a tendency to elongate. I think I built mine up with weld and redrilled them to make them round again

 

Welcome Bob, hope you can get that figured out and make it better.

 

Welcome Bob, post some pictures when you get a chance.

 

Thanks so much for the link to the assy. manual- the pic is very clear how the innards go. will pull my z bar this wknd and have a look. had my son in law work the clutch while i watched and theres a lot of flexing going on at the bracket end of the z bar.

 

Welcome from another Kansas member (and 68 owner).