Clutch Linkage Hell

So I’ve tried getting a hydraulic system on the jeep but the exhaust has screwed us in that way. Now I am trying to get the mechanical linkage back on it just so I can drive it while I am figuring out the hydraulic linkage. But now I am having problems in that it keeps coming out of adjustment and feels like it’s rubbing up against something but I can’t seem to find what. The bellcrank isn’t at any weird angles and I have a heim joint on the pedal rod that attaches to the bellcrank. I am at a loss and any input would be appreciated.

 

Advance Adapter chain linkage may be an option to consider. Very easy install and good reports on function.

 

It won’t work with my exhaust unfortunately

 

Take a Sawzall to your exhaust?

 

I’ve been trying to find a set of shorty headers that would fit but all I find are the 4.0 ones. I actually considered cutting the exhaust at a certain point and having someone build it around the slave cylinder but figured if I could find headers that would work I would rather do that

 

patriot headers make block huggers for a 304

 

I’ve got the 258

 

Is the bell crank installed in the right orientation? Check the bell crank for side to side slip I had to shim the tub side bracket to get rid of the slop. Any movement in the body mounts on the drivers side if the tub moves independently from the frame it will cause troubles.

 

The service manual calls for an 1/8 of an inch of side slip which I have. The body does lift a bit when i push in the clutch

 

It all adds up the body moving up will change the adjustment and affect the way it all works did it work before you took it apart?

 

It worked OK I wouldn’t have called it perfect but it was better than it is now

 

So it's a '73 258 T-18? Would be good to put that in your sig. It's almost always relevant, and I had to look up your profile to find it.

The body does move a little when the pedal is pushed, but it should not have a significant effect on the clutch action. These bellchranks have always worked fine for me when the Jeep was not twisted up (one front wheel in the air and the other stuffed) or when the pushrod has not fallen off.

You have a Heim joint on the pushrod at the clutch end? IME that's the one that fails, and it's the end with the most stress.

If you have the factory manifolds, the '81-up exhaust is a lot smoother than the earlier exhaust-flap manifolds. Comes with an aluminum 2V intake manifold too. That plus a carburetor is probably more bang-for-the-buck than an expensive tubing header. Clifford might still make tubing headers for a 258.

Jeep Headers

 

Sorry I forgot to put that. The heim is on the pedal pushrod onto the bell crank. Right now it has an offy intake manifold and some unknown set of headers

 

Is it on the same end of the bell crank as before? It’s the failure to stay adjusted that is puzzling.

 

I just put the heim on it this time. I dont think that would be a problem though? I have no clue why it isnt staying adjusted

 

Is it really stiff? Maybe the adjustment issue is the bellcrank tabs bending.

 

Or the rod from pedal to bell crank.

 

That was a problem before but we just put a new bellcrank on and corrected the angles

 

So it came out of adjustment again and we fiddled with it and moved it around a little and the pedal height returned to normal. I am completely confused

 

So it came out of adjustment again. I’m wondering if my problems are more internal rather than with the linkage?

I need help