Midyear clutch fork

[Jeremy H.]

I got counted off for my clutch fork not being painted at Bloomington. I have inquired about this and I don't think it was painted from the factory. JM says that it is to be painted. This is for a 67 427 car. What do you think? I don't think that the fork was in at engine painting.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

Jeremy,
I believe the bellhousing, inspection plate and clutch fork were installed prior to Engine painting on both big blocks and small block Corvettes. The rubber boot was installed at a later time and will have no orange paint . All the original 1967 Big Block cars I have ever observed have had some orange paint coverage on the clutch fork. Sorry .

[John H.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

That's correct - the clutch fork was installed at the engine plant, and the rubber boot at St. Louis. You'll note that no part number is called out for the clutch fork in the Assembly Manual - that's because it was part of the engine assembly as-shipped from the engine plant.

[Jeremy H.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

So you all think that the throwout bearing was already on the fork when it was shipped to St.Louis?

[Joe L.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

So you all think that the throwout bearing was already on the fork when it was shipped to St.Louis?

Jeremy-----


No, the clutch release bearing was installed at St. Louis; it was not supplied with the engine assembly. The fork WAS supplied with the engine assembly.

[Michael H.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

I got counted off for my clutch fork not being painted at Bloomington. I have inquired about this and I don't think it was painted from the factory. JM says that it is to be painted. This is for a 67 427 car. What do you think? I don't think that the fork was in at engine painting.

Jeremy,

I think the JG would more accurately describe the clutch fork as "most likely having at least a light mist coat of orange". I suppose it's possible some didn't as the clutch housing was not a target for paint and some have very little paint in this area but if yours has good coverage around the clutch fork, that means the fork would have been coated also.
It probably wouldn't have been 100% painted though.

[James W.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

I know you are asking the question as it relates to a 1967 model, but here is a picture taken at the recent NCRS National Convention of a 1965 396/425 equipped car. This is 26,xxx mile original Duntov/Bowtie car. The pictures that I have attached show the clutch fork with paint on it.


James West

[Joel F.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

Thanks James, pictures like that are priceless.

[William L.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

Jeremy; Sure enough, just went and looked at my 67/ 427 and it looks just like the pictures James sent you. Bill

[John H.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

So you all think that the throwout bearing was already on the fork when it was shipped to St.Louis?

Jeremy -

If you'll look at UPC 7, sheet C1 in the Assembly Manual, you'll see that the throwout bearing (item #13) carries P/N 907538, and the clutch fork is not called out with a part number.

Anything in the Assembly Manual with a part number callout was installed at St. Louis; if there's no part number callout for an item, it was part of an assembly received at St. Louis (like the clutch fork was part of the engine assembly as-received).

[Stuart F.]

Re: Midyear clutch fork

Jim;

Don't hate me, but the finish on the clutch fork in your pictures looks more like corrosion than that of orange paint. May be it's just my old eyes playing tricks on me.

Stu Fox