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Technical INSTALLING A NEW CLUTCH CABLE QUADRANT

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Apr 18, 2021.

  1. Normally I value your opinion but today we just don't see eye to eye.

    Just a little more of the story, the mustang belonged to my best friend growing up and he suddenly had a heart attack, his wife gave me the car, I needed a engine and transmission, I was putting it in my wife's wagon which was purchased new by her grandmother Jessie, these two people meant a lot to us, so in a way we still have a part of them with us. HRP
     
  2. Just never been a SBF person. That quadrant is a cool piece tho
     
    loudbang likes this.
  3. gregsmy
    Joined: Feb 11, 2011
    Posts: 140

    gregsmy
    Member
    from Florida

    I see the new firewall piece makes it more adjustable but is there a certain distance the clutch pedal quadrant pivot has to be from the firewall. I am guessing the cable has swedged ends on it. So if it was to close the cable would be to long and if it was further away it would be to short?
     
    loudbang and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  4. I'll take a photo of the cable this afternoon, the quadrant pivots on the same long bolt that holds the clutch pedal and it has to be forward enough as to not touch the firewall.

    There seems to be a lot of adjustment with the firewall piece, the original one had to be adjusted under the car, this is much petty and a lot easier. HRP
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
    The Magic Ratchet and loudbang like this.
  5. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,444

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    Lol.
     
  6. I'm glad my faux pas made your day. HRP
     
    Randall likes this.
  7. This is the end of the cable that attaches to the hook on the quadrant inside the car and black plastic piece of the outer sleeve fit's inside the adjuster.

    100_3041.JPG

    This end of the cable attaches to the clutch fork, the rounded piece attached to the loop on the side of the transmission and is held in place with a ''C'' clip.

    100_3040.JPG

    Side view of how it attaches to the transmission. HRP

    20170507_194601_1494202670322.jpg

    Cover for the cable.

    s-l1600 (1).jpg
     
    The Magic Ratchet likes this.
  8. That last picture looks a bit pornographic!:eek: Just saying.:p
     
    hotrodjack33 and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  9. Joe Travers
    Joined: Mar 21, 2021
    Posts: 708

    Joe Travers
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Almost up there with 'it was running when I parked it......'
    Rock on brother.

    Joe
     
    VANDENPLAS and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  10. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,130

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Might just as well be...we did get screwed out of a squirrel pizza.:(
     
    HOTRODPRIMER, Tman and ct1932ford like this.
  11. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 3,519

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    HRP if you were near to my shop , I’d spin you out a custom spacer on the lathe .
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  12. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,217

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    Two thoughts , are you absolutely sure that any sort of lubricant is compatible with the plastics involved with the cable ?
    Second , merely from a personal standpoint ,mechanical rod-type linkages are sooo much more operationally simple & generally indestructible .
     
    tiredford and HOTRODPRIMER like this.
  13. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,758

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Or one size fits all which really means it fits nothing.:cool:
     
    HOTRODPRIMER and seb fontana like this.
  14. It was suggested to grease the cable with motor oil, the cable clutch has worked flawlessly in the wagon for the past 10 years and the parts used in this set up had been in service since '04 mustang until I pulled the engine & transmission.

    Everything was working when I decided to upgrade the quadrant to a aluminum piece, the firewall adjustment is also a upgrade improvement, a new cable I deem prudent while I was making the change.

    In my way of thinking the cable is a far superior way of engaging the clutch, It's worked on motorcycles since the beginning and was patented for automobiles in 1964.

    Like I say, it works for me and maybe it's not for everyone but I have had a lot of Hamber' s ask me how I did the conversion. HRP
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
  15. gregsmy
    Joined: Feb 11, 2011
    Posts: 140

    gregsmy
    Member
    from Florida

    Did you get the kit that came with a new cable? Reason I ask is the stock cable doesnt have that adjustable end at the clutch fork. It looks like between the adjustment at the firewall and the clutch fork you should be able compensate for a wide variation in mounting distances for the clutch pedal.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  16. Yes it did.

    The clutch cable is exactly like the original but with the stock rubber firewall mount removed,that way it can slide into the adjuster.

    mail (1).jpg


    This is what the firewall adjustment looks like. HRP

    s-l1600.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
    Foot, VANDENPLAS and ffr1222k like this.
  17. gregsmy
    Joined: Feb 11, 2011
    Posts: 140

    gregsmy
    Member
    from Florida

    Got it, One of your pictures above shows a cable with the adjustable end at the fork. When I looked up a stock cable online it showed it having a non adjustable end at the fork. Just trying to figure which parts I should order for my project.

    And you where able to adapt the quadrant to the stock pedal fairly easy?
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  18. That was more than 12 years ago and with the help of a fellow member(Rod) is sending me photo's of the fox body pedals and I am trying to remember exactly how I accomplished that, I will report back as soon as I see the reference photo's.

    Hopefully I will get a chance to wrap up the installation this evening. HRP
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
  19. After seeing the mustang pedal assembly I realized I had removed the clutch pedal cross shaft from the mustang and used it with the '54 assembly, after seeing what Rods '56 pedal assembly I believe it's very similar to the '54 Ford so my method should work for most Fords of this era.

    This is what the 56 pedal assembly looks like.

    IMG_6007.JPG

    the second photo shows what to remove.

    [​IMG]

    This bolt is the part you will need from the mustang (fox body) or you can fabricate something,I used what I had.

    mail (4).jpeg

    This is what you will need.to convert your pedals to a cable.quadrant clutch. HRP.

    m-7506-101_20180412080408.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2021
    Tman and David Gersic like this.
  20. Thanks for the update Danny.

    Now I have an idea of what to do.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  21. Rod, I also posted a update on the 52-59 social group - HRP

    CLICK HERE
     
  22. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Whew! My son (@richinsanazay) and I installed a 302 and 5 speed in his '65 Mustang in '90, but clutch cable from '89 Mustang had to be fitted directly to a bracket I fabbed atop the hub of the '65 pedal. (very close to the cowl skin, 3/16" clearance. We made a nice 'armor plate' for the cable exit at the firewall, worked flawlessly.
    (Uhh...Never heard of a 'quadrant' at that time, would've thought it was a fire hydrant???)
    Rich ran the little horse at the drags and did street duty, never a problem.
    Danny, I really like that firewall adjuster!
     
  23. I knew what he was talking about. I have the same setup on my 51. I want to caution everyone about the cable you get. Some have no inner liner from nylon or a similar material. Those with just metal will eat up the cable rapidly. Anytime we're under the dash, it isn't that much fun. :)
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  24. I posted a step by step tech thread on the 52-59 Ford social group if you want to try this. HRP

    CLICK HERE
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2021
  25. NOW I remeber the piece! I had an OT 79 Fox body and recall the part under the dash
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  26. gregsmy
    Joined: Feb 11, 2011
    Posts: 140

    gregsmy
    Member
    from Florida

    I have a question regarding the necessity of the quadrant part and its function. The way I understand it working in the original form where it was plastic and included the ratchet pawl, is that it gave it a self adjusting function for the cable in the stock form. Then the aftermarket companies came up with the 1 piece aluminum part to replace the "weak" plastic part and needed some way to adjust the cable and devised the adjustable firewall part.

    My question is, does the radiused shape and design of the quadrant give it some mechanical advantage? Or if a cable was attached to a pedal at the same distance from the pivot point would it do the same job?
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  27. 3W JOHN
    Joined: Oct 8, 2015
    Posts: 1,156

    3W JOHN
    Member

    Probably a mechanical advantage.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  28. The first question, from my point of view any part that gets as much repetitive use as a plastic quadrant I fear will eventually fail, I suppose the pawl was designed to keep tension on the cable, with the original cable the only way to do any serious adjustment was to crawl under the car and take up any slack.

    The adjustable firewall piece makes it easier to do the job, this new aluminum quadrant & adjuster was designed as a upgrade suitable for performance.

    I was concerned that the two small ears on the quadrant could break when I was out on the road.

    mail (5).jpeg

    A few years ago we drove the wagon over 2,800 miles on one road trip and had it the original plastic quadrant snapped I would have had to get a rollback and then find the parts to repair something that there are parts readily available - Call it preventive maintenance.

    The second part of your question, yes there is a mechanical advantage but beyond that the quadrant rolls forward and down when the clutch is depressed, the way it is designed if the cable was attached to the clutch pedal I honestly don't think there wouldn't be enough travel to engage the clutch unless you could shorten the cable and I would assume a strong left leg would be a plus.:D
    HRP
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2021
  29. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    I’ve had a plastic quadrant break and I’ve also stripped the teeth off of a plastic quadrant.

    When the quadrant breaks the clutch won’t disengage, so you can still drive the car and your not totally stranded.

    For anyone considering using this setup, it is intended for a t5 where the release bearing is constantly spinning on the pressure plate fingers.
    If you use this clutch cable setup on an old school transmission you’ll burn up your clutch and or pressure plate.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.
  30. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,713

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    That’s what happened to the one I broke, the teeth stripped off. It is a self adjuster, the pawn engages the teeth on the quadrant, and when the cable stretches, the pawn will get a new bite and take out the slack. Supposedly, after you adjust the cable at the transmission, the self adjusting quadrant keeps the clutch adjusted automatically. The piece I fixed mine with was an aluminum angle bolted to the quadrant, and used a bolt and two nuts to hit the pedal arm. I took the slack out of the cable with the bolt pushing on the arm, then locked it into place with the other nut. It was still working fine on the truck a year later when I got rid of it.
     
    HOTRODPRIMER likes this.

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