Subject: [Spridgets] Clutch Problems

From: Michael MacLean via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2022 13:16:34 -0800

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Since I did a Datsun transmission swap to my 1275 powered Bugeye I have
always had a terrible clutch.  The conversion kit is from Paul A before he
passed so you can get an idea of how long I have been living with this
clutch.  Per Paul I used a Datsun clutch with a re-machined 1275 flywheel
and th eoriginal 948 drum brake slave cylinder.  I was assured this would
all work out by paul.  Well, it worked, but the the clutch pedal went from
a normal pressure and travel with my 948 and smooth case trans setup to a
nightmarishly hard clutch that had to be depressed all the way to the floor
and grabbed immediately when it was brought up resulting in all the clutch
action happening in the first few inches of travel back up from the floor.
It essentially acted more like an on and off switch than a clutch.  To
facilitate this arrangement I had a combination master cylinder using the
brake bore of the original 7/8" for the 4 drum brakes I retained in the car
and a 3/4" re-sleeve on the clutch side for the Datsun clutch.  I thought I
was stuck with this arrangement.  As some of you guys know, I have just got
around to converting the front brakes to disc.  As part of this conversion
I bought an AP Lockheed 3/4" double bore master cylinder.  This made no
difference to the clutch effort as the clutch bore did not change.  I don't
know why, but I came to the conclusion that a 1275 slave cylinder would be
better for the clutch pedal effort as I now had a 1275 in the car.  As I
look back on that thinking, it is rather flawed.  Yes, I had a 1275 in the
Bugeye, but I had a Datsun transmission and a Datsun clutch in the car.
Wouldn't that require a Datsun slave cylinder?  Well, out of my ignorance I
had the 1275 1" bore slave cylinder installed in the car with a slightly
longer slave pushrod and bled the clutch with a pressure bleeder.  Holy
crap!  The clutch pedal is now to an almost normal amount of actuating
pressure and the engagement travel is more like a normal clutch.  I am one
happy camper!  Just wanted to pass this along if any of you guys with a
similar setup is experiencing the same "on/off" switch syndrome with your
Datsun trans conversion.
Mike MacLean
P.S. Just in time for spring and summer!

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Since I did a Datsun transmission swap to my 1275 pow=
ered Bugeye I have always had a terrible clutch.=C2=A0 The conversion kit i=
s from Paul A before he passed so you can get an idea of how long I have be=
en living with this clutch.=C2=A0 Per Paul I used a Datsun clutch with a re=
-machined 1275 flywheel and th eoriginal 948 drum brake slave cylinder.=C2=
=A0 I was assured this would all work out by paul.=C2=A0 Well, it worked, b=
ut the the clutch pedal went from a normal pressure and travel with my 948 =
and smooth case trans setup to a nightmarishly hard clutch that had to be d=
epressed all the way to the floor and grabbed immediately when it was broug=
ht up resulting in all the clutch action happening in the first few inches =
of travel back up from the floor.=C2=A0 It essentially acted more like an o=
n and off switch than a clutch.=C2=A0 To facilitate this arrangement I had =
a combination master cylinder using the brake bore of the original 7/8&quot=
; for the 4 drum brakes I retained in the car and a 3/4&quot; re-sleeve on =
the clutch side for the Datsun clutch.=C2=A0 I thought I was stuck with thi=
s arrangement.=C2=A0 As some of you guys know, I have just got around to co=
nverting the front brakes to disc.=C2=A0 As part of this conversion I bough=
t an AP Lockheed 3/4&quot; double bore master cylinder.=C2=A0 This made no =
difference to the clutch effort as the clutch bore did not change.=C2=A0 I =
don&#39;t know why, but I came to the conclusion that a 1275 slave cylinder=
 would be better for the clutch pedal effort as I now had a 1275 in the car=
.=C2=A0 As I look back on that thinking, it is rather flawed.=C2=A0 Yes, I =
had a 1275 in the Bugeye, but I had a Datsun transmission and a Datsun clut=
ch in the car. Wouldn&#39;t that require a Datsun slave cylinder?=C2=A0 Wel=
l, out of my ignorance I had the 1275 1&quot; bore slave cylinder installed=
 in the car with a slightly longer slave pushrod and bled the clutch with a=
 pressure bleeder.=C2=A0 Holy crap!=C2=A0 The clutch pedal is now to an alm=
ost normal amount of actuating pressure and the engagement travel is more l=
ike a normal clutch.=C2=A0 I am one happy camper!=C2=A0 Just wanted to pass=
 this along if any of you guys with a similar setup is experiencing the sam=
e &quot;on/off&quot; switch syndrome with your Datsun trans conversion.</di=
v><div>Mike MacLean</div><div>P.S. Just in time for spring and summer!<br><=
/div></div>

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