Heating up firewall area to massage in - Help

[bigboi]

I have a question... I dropped in a new motor and used a Lakewood Bellhousing. The Lakewood clutch fork is a little longer than a stock GM clutch fork so I had to bang in the firewall a little to get it to fit (Sledgehammer type deal).

Well now the engine is in I can tell the clutch fork doesn't have enough room to move freely. I need to "massage" the firewall a little so to speak.

I have a sledgehammer and a steel shaft that I can probably bang the firewall in a little more with. My question is this... Would applying heat to the area with a Benzene Handheld Torch help me in the process? The metal part I need to bang in is basically a lip, so it's gonna be hard as hell to bang in.

Any help, suggestions, thoughts would be appreciated. Taking out the engine is not something that I want to explore as an option at the moment. :)

Brian

[Vegas69]

You may want to change your clutch fork. A stock clutch fork should be fine and give you more clearance. I am getting ready to drop my engine in as well. Classic Chevy 5 speed told me to stay away from the extended or extra strength clutch forks for this exact reason. I am running a quick time bellhousing and it looks like my stock clutch fork and Z bar rod will be fine. I picked it up from NPD for like 40 bucks. I would try that before I went beating on my car.

[Rick Dorion]

The Lakewood is actually for a 2nd gen. Use the first gen fork - part # 3892632 .

[HILROD]

The Lakewood won't always work. I couldn't get it to work right with any clutch bigger than a 10 1/2. The 1'st gen part works with any clutch, up to 12 inch. Also if you have sagged stock, or dropped body mounts, some work will need to be done to get clutch arm clearance.

[bigboi]

Awww mannn... That means I need to pull the tranny and replace the clutch fork. It's so much easier to drop the engine in with the tranny attached - that's why I did it that way.... :scared:

Well... I know what I will be doing this weekend... Soooooon of a biiiiiiiiii

Thanks for the help guys... You all are always there to help me with my screw ups.. :)

[bigboi]

Rick - I ordered the 3892632 clutch fork and it should be in at the GM Parts Counter tomorrow. I also ordered a Lakewood N-1716 throwout bearing and I have the adjustable pivot ball.

I have heard the adjustable pivot ball shouldn't be used and I should use the Long GM Stock Pivot Ball - Is this correct?

Also... Will the N-1716 TB work?


The Lakewood is actually for a 2nd gen. Use the first gen fork - part # 3892632 .

[Vegas69]

With an adujstable stud you can set it where you want it. I think the adjustable stud is highly recommended for the lakewood scattershield.

[Rick Dorion]

The long stud worked for my config (McLeod flywheel and bellhousing) after doing all the measurements. But you do need to measure your setup. Nothing wrong with the adjustable. Just need to cut off the threaded shank to get the correct length so you can bolt the tranny up. I happened to have a long stud on hand and it was within a few thousandth's of the 'perfect' measurement so I used it.