Those pics don't get a real good angle where we need to see, but it looks likely that they will work with a manual tranny (floorshift). I wish they would clarify that, but they probably don't know themselves. It was likely the headers were engineered using an auto trans car for a model. If they don't work with the linkage, it's a good excuse to upgrade to a hydraulic T.O. bearing. I need to email them and see what kind of window I have to get in on this.
I have been trying to call Crites for the last three days, finally got them today. The answering machine picked up and said they where closed at 3:00pm eastern time, the same recording I kept getting all week, but real faintly I heard a lady saying hang on don't hang up. Waited for the recording to end then spoke with her. I asked about these headers working with a 4 speed and the linkage. She could not answer the question for sure put promised to call me back Monday to let me know. she did tell me that they where to go into production next week though. So I am hoping that they will work with the 4 speed set and and will place my order for sure on Monday when she clarifies this. I can not wait to get them, sort of just in time for Christmas and I think this year I will buy myself a Christmas present early!! I will keep everybody posted on the 4 speed issue. Thanks Allen Small
Crites Headers for 351W with 4 speed Crites just called me and made me aware that these headers will not work with a 4 speed car that is using the factory Z bar set up with a V/8 . It will work with the hydraulic clutch and cable set up though. I do not know if this matters to anyone or not, but could. I know it effects that set up I was planning on using. I need now to find out what is needed and what it takes to switch the cable set up to see if it is worth it. Thanks Allen Small
Allen, I think if you do a search here you may get the info you need about the clutch set up .I know that there are several people here with the cable type clutches. I do think it was admirable of Crites to actually call you back ...these days MANY companies don`t do that,instead they figure you will keep calling them `til you get them on the phone.
Thanks ,Its a 308 with Victor jr. heads ...Planning to go to a 408 ...thats what I originally bought the heads for lol.
M.A.V., You are right, that it was nice of Crites to call back. As you said most companies would make you call back to get your answer. I am going ahead and getting a set and will do the search on the forum here to see what it takes to do a cable set up using a top 64 top loader 4 speed. I really want to keep the 4 speed set up becuase it goes so well with the theme I am going for and since I have been gathering all the parts for years now and basically have everything now. It would be a shame to give up when I am so close. Thanks Allen Small
Allen, why not try a hydraulic throw out bearing? It would require a master cylinder, but you could surely rob one of those off just about any standard tranny vehicle made after 1990... I have a Chevy with a cable clutch, and I'll tell you first hand that when we put a stout clutch in there, it put a great deal of pressure on the system and started breaking stuff. Just a thought. The cable has to be mounted firmly at both ends, and when put under pressure, it will find a weakness. With hydraulics there is just fluid power, not brute force like linkage or cable.
Ratio411, I have done a few goggle searches on the hydraulic clutch. It looks like a few of the mustang guys are already doing this conversion on the older mustangs since the cable is prone to fail as you had indicated. It seems the biggest obstacle would be the location of the cylinder and the ability to bleed the lines. I am not sure if anyone on the forum has done this yet or not, I have not done a search yet. Thanks for the idea. Allen Small
I don't want to get too far off subject, but fwiw, my cable has one stress point anchored to the firewall. The surface is reinforced from the factory, but the cable still ripped the firewall after a performance clutch install. It has been braced and rebraced several times over the years since the first failure. It has never been 'right' ever since though.
On the hydraulic clutch.... You can get a hydraulic throw-out bearing collar that is used in place of a slave cylinder. You will have a metal line down to the bellhousing and then a flexible line to the throw-out bearing. They work as well as any other type of clutch and does away with the throw-out fork.
I talked to one of the header techs today at Crites just to get some clarification on some things. He said they where waiting for a part to come in for the bender and it would be about three weeks before we saw our headers unless they ran into a problem. They are great people to work with! I am looking for forward to getting them. What type of remote oil filter set up are you guys thinking about running with these headers? Just curious? Thanks Allen Small
I was asked to provide some information on the hydraulic throw-out bearings in a PM so I thought I would post it here too so others could have access to it as well: They are made by most of the after-market suppliers and sold through many outlets. Here are a few websites: http://www.jegs.com/p/Ram+Clutches/795647/10002/-1 http://www.midwestmotorsportsinc.com/order_sub.php?id=81 http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=400374+314795+115&autoview=sku http://www.stockcarproducts.com/clutch8.htm http://www.mcleodind.com/downloads/prod_guide_PDFs/Page_10.pdf http://www.howeracing.com/drivetrain/Index-Throw-HydStock.htm http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/1945,441_Stock-Clutch-Hydraulic-Throwout-Bearings.html I hope all these still work - if not just go to your favorite on-line store and search for hydraulic throw-out bearings.
Yeah, that is what I was refering to. I would never mess with a hydraulic slave cylinder type and having to hybrid all that hydraulic to mechanical linkage under the car.