Changed the 455 in my 1968 Cutlass, was a manual crank. Put the same clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing and Muncie back in, along with the newly surfaced flywheel. Have about an inch of free pedal and now a can't get it to go into gear. Shift linkage feels fine when car isn't running but when you start it the linkage feels like it's jammed up. It did try to go into reverse one time and it sounded like the clutch wasn't even pushed it, lots of grinding. Hoping I don't have to pull the tranny. Anybody ever run into a similar situation?

 

Be sure you dont have the trans in reverse and a forward gear at the same time. Go under the car and manually move the levers into neutral, and be sure its not in reverse from below too. Had what sounds like the same thing happen on my Vette. The reverse lever was engaged along with a forward gear at the same time, locked up everything. The shifter basically would not shift into any gear. Hope its your problem too, very easy to correct.
Steve

 

Thanks Steve but I've started the car and warmed it up. Just waiting for it to cool so I can go back out and try something else.

 

It sounds like you need to adjust the clutch more. The freeplay you mentioned is that at the pedal or the clutch linkage?

 

It's got about an inch of free play at the pedal.

 

Problem I had was I could not shift a gear while engine was running. Could put the trans in 1st with engine off,start engine with clutch in and make car move but could not shift in or out of gear with engine running and if I tried to put it in gear with engine running it would not go or grind. The problem went away with a new pressure plate and disc.

 

Try this: get a couple of buddies to rock the car while in gear, car not running and depress the clutch to see if actually releases it should roll with the clutch depressed if your getting enough travel.

Pat

 

Don't have a couple buddies around right now and have the car up on stands but I did climb under and pull off the inspection cover and had my wife push the clutch. You can see it operating properly and see it releasing the clutch plate. I do remember the car has a centerforce pressure plate and when I put it back together I thought that it was strange because it felt like the clutch adjustment rod was gonna be to short. Is there something about these centerforce pressure plates I should know about? Maybe it could be traveling to far? Maybe tomorrow after work I will try to really loosen it up and see what happens.

 

There is a long and a short throwout bearing. Sounds like you need the long and used the short.

 

When you changed engines did you assure that the pilot bearing/bushing was O.K. in the replacement engine?

 

Put a new pilot bearing in. Got a sneaky hunch what it is.Gonna tear it out tomorrow, I'll let you guys know.

 

Is your flywheel stepped or flat?

Pat

 

IMHO, what ever it is, its not letting your clutch fully engage.

 

Got it all apart. Half the flange on the throw out bearing that holds it to the clutch arm is broken off and half is flattened out. Still feels good and quiet but gonna replace. My question of the day is, how important is the spring clip that holds the bearing on the arm? Mine is sprung and has the ears broke off.

 

Since you've gone to the trouble of dis-assembly and found the shortfall I'd probably make it all correct before putting it back together.

 

I agree, taking it apart again would be a real pita.