I'm pretty well done with my auto trans to T5 conversion, I finally found a flywheel, thanks Greg, about the only thing left to acquire is the clutch assembly. The stock flywheel is factory drilled for a 9.5" pressure plate, what's known as a "Long" style, with three sets of two holes each about 3" apart. Problem is, I can't find a 9.5" pressure plate or even a listing for one anywhere on the web for a 61-63 215 V8 or any other car that size...... I did find a disc that is close and would work, a 9 1/8" disc that is compatible with the T5 input shaft 26 spline 1 1/8 shaft. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a pressure plate that would work? Last resort is redrilling the flywheel, but if can, I'd like to avoid doing that.
I used a McCleod flywheel with a S10 pressure plate. A few of the pressure plate mounting holes had to be opened up a smidge.
9-1/2'' clutches are hard to come by.
But in the metric world that works out to 240mm which is pretty common.
I don't have any listings in front of me right now, but Audi and Toyota spring to mind.
At the end of the day though, having the flywheel redrilled is cheap. And it lets you choose a more modern clutch assy.
That will buy you more choice, better feel and a lighter pedal.
Just remember that a bigger clutch is not necessarily better. The smallest clutch that will hold your power will work out to your advantage.
A great big clutch sounds manly, but it shifts slowly, slows your engine and wears out your syncro's quickly.
A decent 215 is going to be around 280 lbsft. torque and a modern 9" or 228mm clutch will hold that easily.
Live like you mean it.
Fred
Ditto what Fred said!
From way back:
QuoteSince my wife drives our Buick 215 powered MG, I wanted a near stock pedal feel. Went with a smaller diaphragm (vs Borg & Beck) clutch/pressure plate. Saves weight & has a lighter pedal. More info from the archives:
I used a 26 spline Mercedes clutch disk. The local shop turned about 1/8" off the outer edge so it would work with a S10 pressure plate.
Here's a bit of the story from 2002:
There is a good bit of difference in weight between an S10 pressure plate and one for a V-8 Camaro (10.5"]. After going to the trouble to put my flywheel (McCleod/Weber) on a diet, I wasn't about to hang that heavy clutch on it. The local clutch & brake shop rebuilt me a 9 1/8 S10 pressure plate and cut down a 9 3/8 Mecedes 26 spline clutch disk to fit (thanks to Curtis Jacobson for the Mercedes clutch idea). He also enlarged the pressure plate bolt holes slighty to match existing holes in the flywheel, since only 3 of the 6 holes matched exactly. Total cost=$73.24 (including alignment tool, bolts & tax). Pedal pressure is only slightly more than stock
I've since discovered that a 94-98 S10 w/ 2.2L 4-banger uses a 9 1/8" clutch
with 26 splines. If it doesn't hold, order one from Centerforce.
Looking at the Centerforce's online catalog shows that the V-6 Camaro uses a 9 11/16" clutch with 26 splines.
Thanks guys, you've given me some good info to work with.......
Nowadays, The 93-95 3.4 V6 Camaro/Firebird clutch(26 spline) and pressure plate would be perfect for you.
Update on my clutch search..... Turns out my Olds 215 flywheel was factory drilled for a 10" clutch. Phoenix Friction Products was very helpful over the phone and after I took a few measurements they needed, they came up with a new 10" Long style (9 spring) pressure plate and it weighs in at only14 lbs. No re-drilling of the flywheel was needed.
Speedway Motors sells a 10" clutch disc that has the 1 1/8 x 26 spline that I needed for the GM T5 conversion. The pressure plate number from Phoenix Friction is number NCA 0779 and the Speedway Motors number for the 10" disc is #91015644. Maybe this experience and the solution I came up with will help others that will be looking for a reasonably priced clutch assembly when installing a T5 transmission behind their 215s........