T5 swap clutch pressure? Hard petal - Mustang Steve

[ks65stang]

I've swapped in an 88 Mustang 5.0 T5 in my 65 Couple w/ a rebuilt 289 I plan to start today (never started yet w/ this set up). Before I re-installed my headers I set up my Mustang Steve Cable clutch system. Install we fine. The clutch cable is just looped from the firewall to the bell housing in a nice smooth loop w/ no interference and the clutch petal is pretty stiff. It’s nowhere near the feel of a stock 88 GT Stang clutch and too stiff for my wife to operate (I bet I never say that again).

So I have been thinking..... these are all stock parts and the Mustang Steve kit is proven so what did I do wrong? The clutch kit was a set from Auto Zone for a stock Mustang so the pressure shouldn’t be too hard. The only think I can figure is.....I didn't use any alignment pins that attach to the flywheel and align the pressure plate housing. I just aligned the pressure plate, torqued down the bolts correctly and in sequence flush w/ the flywheel.

Is there supposed to be a gap between the flywheel and the pressure plate housing? My housing is flush with the flywheel (touching each other). My thinking is if I had used these pins it would hold the pressure plate housing off the flywheel little (maybe 1/8" to 1/4"), reducing clamping pressure to a stock feel? Or maybe the pressure plate just needs broke in?

I will post in the 5.0 forums and on Mustang Steve site too.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[f8tlfiveo]

Why didn't you use dowel pins on the flywheel? What clutch quadrant are you using? I think different ones give different results. My brothers clutch is a lot harder than mine.. Both fox body mustangs..

 

[Noobz347]

The pressure plate should be in contact with the flywheel.

You should have used the dowel pins but the only function they perform is to line everything up for assembly.

Try rerouting your clutch cable with as as few sharp turns as you can manage and see if that makes a difference.

 

[jballa]

None of my business, but I'd say the stock autozone clutch was your first mistake.