Author Topic: new guy 66 gs  (Read 1593 times)

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Offline rooneygs

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new guy 66 gs
« on: September 15, 2014, 07:45:31 PM »
hello i have a 66 skylark post 4 speed been working on for years. i like that you are specific to 64 65 66. i've been working on the car for years and i'm almost done. I started with just replacing the floors and before i knew it i had the whole car apart, got rid of rust, rebiult trans, tom telesco did motor. Did  bodywork, paint, interior, suspension, wiring. Got plates friday, thought i was ready for the road but i wasn't. The clutch won't disengage.  I adjusted the pedal all the way up still nothing. when i depress the clutch can't get it into gear, reverse just grinds. I tried starting it in gear with clutch and brake  depressed. It started but made so much noise i had to shut down. The clutch is ram powergrip heavy duty clutch. I should have kept the old one so i could compare them. i bought the clutch new about 7 years ago and its been sitting in a box in my garage since. Anyone have ideas? t.o. bearing is also new.  does anyone have the sizes, maybe the clutch and t.o. bearing i have are wrong. Any help would be appreciated. Being this close to finishing after all this time is frustrating. thanks johnny    ps going to try to post pics tomorrow, phone is dead

Offline rooneygs

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2014, 06:25:07 AM »
Oops, sorry about that double post

Offline Brian

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2014, 07:07:32 AM »
Likely you have one of two things going on.  Either the input shaft of the transmission is binding up in the pilot bushing in the back of the crankshaft, or you installed the clutch disc backwards.  The hub of the disc protrudes further on one side and fits up inside the pressure plate.  If flipped over the other way, the hub contacts the flywheel and flywheel mounting bolts.  Either way, you have to take the transmission back out and pull the bell housing and clutch pressure plate. 
'64 Skylark 2dr ht 4 speed, 300-4
'65 GS ht, 4 speed,2-4s,AC,PS,PB,PW,Pseat,Tilt
'66 Skylark 2dr ht 300-2 automatic
'78 Yamaha DT 400 2 stroke
'88 Ford F-150 4x4 (used to be 4x2)
'89 Ford F-350 4x4
'03 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6-speed manual (daily driver)

Offline rooneygs

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2014, 08:31:00 AM »
Well it must be the pilot bushing because I all ready fixed the disc cause I put it in backwards. Hopefully I can get to it tonight.  Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how it goes

Offline WkillGS

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2014, 10:54:50 AM »
Welcome Johnny! :occasion14:

I was thinking it could be a release bearing problem. The Nailhead uses a unique one common to early Buicks, but much different than late Buicks/Chevys, etc.

1) be sure you have the correct one.
2) be sure it's installed correctly.
Here are some pics I had on file:
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline jmos4

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2014, 11:09:51 AM »
Hi and welcome aboard,

One other thing to check is the flywheel thickness as if it is too thin the bolts will hit the disc no matter which way it is

Good luck
Jim

1965 Skylark post car (65 GS frame 401/4-speed, 2x4's)
1964 Skylark (future 430 stick)
1965 Special 4 door 300 4speed
1964 Special 2 door (future, GS 401 3 speed stick)

Offline rooneygs

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2014, 01:59:45 PM »
Are release bearing clips installed from bottom up cause I came from top down.

Offline rooneygs

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2014, 08:00:49 PM »
well i think i found the problem. when i put the trans in , during installation it looks like the bearring was moved enough for one of the clips to fall off the fork and then get jammed between fork and bearing. looks like i just have to bend clip back and reinstall. i'm trying to post pics with this , hope i'm more successful than my clutch install. oh and thanks for all the welcomes'  johnny

Offline 66nailhead

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2014, 12:57:04 AM »
Welcome Johnny.  Very nice 66gs. That's a pretty rare car being a 4speed and a post. Looks good. Hope you get her on the road soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dan Harper

66 buick gs hardtop.  401/st400
66 buick gs convertible. 401/st300. Original Verde green with 70,000 miles
66 buick special 2dr post. 340/st400.
66 buick special wagon

Offline rooneygs

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Re: new guy 66 gs
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2014, 04:39:41 AM »
Thanks