Pressure plate for Buick flywheel and V6 T5 tranny?

cgill · July 14, 2011, 05:46:23 PM

Okay I'm stumped.

I managed to find a pressure plate from a jeep that matched the one that came with my engine (a buick skylark) and Camaro V6 T5 tranny. However when I bolted the clutch in the pressure plate 'fingers' are laying flat against the clutch indicating that something isn't right. I'm using a HTOB but I can wiggle it back and forth easily so it isn't pressing the fingers down.

Someone recommended an S10 pressure plate so I picked one up today. However it is smaller in diameter and depth than the one I got with the car.

Can someone please tell me which pressure plate I need? I am quickly running out of options.

A big thank you for any help!
Chris

mgb260 · July 14, 2011, 08:04:34 PM

Chris, Have you verified the clutch disc is not backwards.

cgill · July 15, 2011, 11:46:22 AM

Not yet. We are pulling it tomorrow night. But it is extremely unlikely because my friend helped me put it together and he has done literally hundreds of clutches (Ford mechanic). But it is a possibility. I think more likely the cause is a clutch that is too thick.

cgill · July 17, 2011, 01:19:08 AM

Okay so it turns out I had an incorrect pressure plate for my flywheel. I ended up re-using the one I got with the car for the time being.

So I need to find a pressure plate that can mate up to a Buick 215 flywheel. The one I have is a 10.5" Borg and Beck. Unfortunately there wasn't any more information stamped on it. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Chris

mgb260 · July 17, 2011, 07:08:28 AM

Chris, the one Jim B. mentioned. Generic GM 10 1/2"probably.(disclaimer:compare with the one that works first)Diaphram type isn't as stiff and takes less pedal pressure than Borg & Beck or Long type. The shorter one was from a Jeep? Maybe the Jeep had a thicker flywheel like the Camaro ? I can see you would have to have matching pairs. This kind of thing helps everyone when you figure it out.

DiDueColpi · July 18, 2011, 02:57:24 AM

Chris,
Try the website for centerforce clutches.
They have a page that lists the measurements for some of the more common clutches.
I'll bet yours is the 10.4'' gm unit.
Cheers
Fred

cgill · July 18, 2011, 06:34:31 PM

Thanks Jim and Fred.

I think you are right. All I need is to find one with the correct bolt pattern and 'fingers' set at the right angle - the Jeep ones were almost flat before I put them in which probably means the flywheel was thicker.

roverman · July 18, 2011, 08:16:40 PM

FWIW, many US based clutches are set-up for a "non-step" flywheel. This tends to make things easier. Good Luck, roverman.