68 cougar clutch linkage problem

Hi All,
First post to ford muscle and Im hoping someone can help me out...
I have a 68 cougar with an 87 5.0 350 hp, toploader tranny.Im having a problem with the clutch linkage not returning all the way, and the pedal being really stiff. One day driving around and my left leg is hurting. There is no play at all, it feels like the pedal come back to right where it engages, I can pull it back another 3 inches or so with the top of my foot. I disconnected the rods both sides of equalizer bar and it seems everything from bar on down to fork move freely. Im also noticing at the track when i drop clutch 3000 rpm plus it wants to slip, I dont know if the clutch is going bad from not retracting all the way or if its still in the linkage... Any Advice on what could be my problem and how I can fixit?
Thanks

Have you looked under the dash to see if the bushings for the pedal pivot have burst out of the pedal bracket? Pretty common on these cars. It might be the reason for the stiffness and apparent lack of free play. There are a few people around that have installed proper bearings when this happens. Stu

Good tip on the clutch pedal bushings.Try wiggling the pedal with the linkage disconnected and see how much play there is.It might just need some lubrication as well.Check out the mustangsteve.com site for some pedals with bearings.
[addsig]

Thanks for the advice, those bushings definitely look worn out, I purchased a ball bearing bushing kit today. I must say removal of the clutch pedal and linkage is awful, spent 5 hours turning wrenches and still havent got it off, I got all 4 firewall bolts, the three behind instrument cluster , but its still holding firm... Are there more bolts im missing ?

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On 2005-10-26 20:30, dreadcougar wrote:
Thanks for the advice, those bushings definitely look worn out, I purchased a ball bearing bushing kit today. I must say removal of the clutch pedal and linkage is awful, spent 5 hours turning wrenches and still havent got it off, I got all 4 firewall bolts, the three behind instrument cluster , but its still holding firm... Are there more bolts im missing ?
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Is the Master cylinder still attached? Stu

Got the support off inally, but it required me removal of steering column. Dropped right out after i took that out. Got my master repair kit too with new bushings and bearings instqalled, now comes the fun task of reassembling the column, dash, and support. Its gonna be fun[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Want to say hi everyone since I'm new to posting here!

Anyhow, I had nightmares with my last two 1967 Mustang Coupe clutch linkage/brackets/etc. Now that you have your brackets and bushings all in order, be prepared to bend Z-bars left and right. I don't know whether I was doing something wrong (couldn't imagine what, the things are pretty straightforward), or what but I have never had one work properly. My advice (and it's advice I've taken myself) is to just use a cable (inexpensive) or hydraulic ($$$$) setup while you have the pedal assembly out of the car.

Anyhow, good luck with your manual transmission....stick guys like us are a dying breed! =)

Cris