I am in the process of rollerizing my V8 z-bar and clutch linkage using off the shelf parts. If this works out I will do a tech article on the conversion.
Hey Spork, I did... http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=44975 I would be interested in rollerizing the z-bar as well. Let us know how it turns out!
I got my parts in today, now I have to get this done so the mav is drivable again. click on pic to see full size
That's great! I have wanted to do this mod for a long time. It will surely tighten up accuracy of the linkage. The stock stuff is pretty sloppy unfortunately.
Hold on... Are you sure about those ends on the rod? Don't those ends 'flop' at an angle, or are they fixed at a permanent 90*? I have some and the bolt portion can 'bend' at an angle all the way around. Your linkage would have major slack in it. Just curious... I have never seen a set that was fixed, doesn't mean they don't make them though, so forgive me if I sound ignorant! Even if they are fixed at 90*, wouldn't they be less strong at that high stress bend? Seems like the kind of pressure they will receive latterally could be more than that bearing could handle. Again, if I am off base, educate me. I am going by the ends that I have at my shop for saw transmission linkage. They get the job done as the linkage slides under almost no stress via a hand operated stick. Nothing like the pressures created by leverage of leg strength and a good clutch. If anything, I would rollerize the block at the bottom of the z-bar that pushes the rod into the clutch fork. Drill out the z-bar to the od of the bearing, and get the bearing id to match the od of the block's stud. The end of the z-bar though would probably have to be beefed up just a little due to the larger hole.
I have rod ends on my clutch linkage and they work fine. I used ends with through-holes and grade 8 bolts, though. In the pictures what caught my eye was the spherical swivel bearings that support each end of the z-bar. I wonder what the load rating is on those bearings?
Hey ratio, I don't think you would have the slack you are thinking because they are anchored and held in place by the threaded end into the pedal and the z-bar on the other end. The stiffness of the metal itself (almost 1/4" thick) keeps the ridgidity. I did the same thing once on a mustang (the rod ends only) and never had a problem. I just never thought of going with the spherical rod ends on the z-bar itself. I think that I found all these at Aurora bearing if anyone is interested. Is that right spork?
For the rods I bought 2 of these: http://www.jerrybickel.com/clutch-linkage-jbrc1050.html I bought mine back in 04 and the price is still the same. They have heim ends so they can take an offset.
The spherical bearings I bought have 1"od and 1/2" id. I picked them up last year from Motion Industries for less than $9 each.