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ManualsBrandsRam Clutches ManualsAutomotive88761 Replacement Clutch Set Fits 71-84 Corvette Firebird GTO

General Clutch Instructions

Congratulations on your purchase of a RAM clutch assembly. You can be assured you have purchased the finest clutch available and with care in use and installation your clutch will perform well

over the service life.

It is impossible to provide accurate installation instructions for every vehicle in this instruction sheet. Therefore, we provide key tips and procedures that will help you install and use your clutch prop-

erly. If you are performing this install yourself and are unfamiliar with disassembly/reassembly on your particular vehicle, we strongly advise obtaining a factory service manual for your vehicle, or

seeking the installation help of a professional.

While RAM Technical support will do all they can to help you with an installation it is impossible for us to know and advise on every specific procedure for a given vehicle. Therefore technical advice

must be limited to verifying the components and operation of the clutch itself.

SAFETY TIPS

ALWAYS use jackstands or a lift to support the vehicle you are working on.

Transmission components are very heavy and require the use of a transmission jack for removal/installation of these parts. Failure to do this could cause personal injury, damage to the clutch splines

during installation, or bend the disc carrier and causing disengagement problems.

RAM always recommends the use of a safety bellhousing with any performance clutch installation.

Disassembly/Pre-installation Tips

Determine the cause of failure on the original clutch before installing a new one:

· Was the release bearing riding against the fingers of the pressure plate?

· Did the pressure plate warp? Is it hot spotted? Why?

· Was a mistake made on the previous installation?

· Is there a problem with the release mechanism?

Knowing the original cause of failure and correcting it will help avoid having the same problem with your new clutch install

· Bellhousing alignment is critical to proper clutch operation. If you are using an aftermarket bellhousing, it must be dial indicated to the crankshaft center line and checked for squareness top-to-

bottom and side-to-side. Check with your bellhousing manufacturer for specifics on performing this operation. Failure to do so could result in non-release or damage to your clutch system.

· The flywheel MUST be resurfaced or replaced before installing a new clutch assembly. In addition, run out should be checked on the flywheel once it is reinstalled to insure proper release of the

clutch and minimal chatter on takeoff.

· On mechanical linkages, check the release fork and pivot ball, z-bar, and all bushings for excessive wear. Worn components should be replaced now to avoid problems later that could cause the

clutch not to release properly.

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
General Clutch Instructions Congratulations on your purchase of a RAM clutch assembly. You can be assured you have purchased the finest clutch available and with care in use and installation your clutch will perform well over the service life. It is impossible to provide accurate installation instructions for every vehicle in this instruction sheet. Therefore, we provide key tips and procedures that will help you install and use your clutch properly.
PAGE 2
· Check cable systems for stretch or fraying of the cable, or excessive wear in the pivot ball and fork. Many Ford applications require using an adjustable cable and quadrant for proper release of the clutch system. · Check hydraulic systems for leakage, pinched lines, or overheated fluid. Fluid that appears brownish or black has been hot and should be flushed and replaced with new fluid.
PAGE 3
Test Drive – Break in When you test drive the vehicle, pay attention to the release point on the pedal and how smoothly the transmission shifts. You may need to re-adjust the linkage to attain the proper release point. If you are using a freshly surfaced or new flywheel, and have selected the proper clutch components for your application, proper break in requires 500-1,000 miles of non-aggressive driving.
PAGE 4
up. Expect some chatter with metallic based discs. - Gearing and tire size have a huge effect on clutch engagement. Taller rear gears (lower numerically) require the clutch to be slipped more on takeoff to get the car moving, and will cause metallic discs to chatter. - Check for bent clutch disc. If the transmission does not slide in smoothly on install, or if you have to “rock” the transmission to get it installed, the clutch disc can become bent and cause chatter.