How far should I go during clutch R+R?

[Andy D]

The clutch engages at the very last 3/4" of pedal. If I get on the gas too fast , the clutch slips badly. Clutch is shot. I'm going to do my first clutch job in about 25yrs. Reading the page in Chilton's showed me that a clutch R+R hasnt changed much. Its a 94 4.0 with 26 kmiles showing on the odo. 5 digits , so its 120 or 220 . Motor starts and runs OK . It is a 600 $ project, 4th vehicle. Gonna be used round town and beach . Not needed to be very much So how far do I really need to go? I dont expect to get much more than 30k miles in 5 yrs out of the body before rust takes it. Can I get by with just a new disc? I did just that with Bugs. I used the best looking one in my parts collection. As long as it goes OK. Rattles and groans are the nature of old pickups .

 

[Will]

An old Bug, the clutch is a simple job. I have experience nursing VWs along on the cheap and it was a good reason to own one. The kit to seal a motor up was like $5. You can get a VW motor out in 20 minutes--vans are quicker because you can drop them on your chest while on a creeper and there's more room to work.

A Ranger is worse. It's best to do it like you never want to do it again. Everything that stays in the car when you pull a bug motor, you have to take off to get a Ranger tranny out. Still, for what you need, I would think the flywheel will be okay. Unless it looks horrible, it will do it's job. I would replace the clutch cover (pressure plate) and the pilot bushing. Also, the throw-out bearing, which is part of the slave cylinder. It's crap that stays up in a VW bellhousing when you pull the engine. On a Ranger with it's hydraulic clutch, it's a bother to disconnect the line, and sometimes a bother to bleed the system. One of the many things that will piss you off doing the clutch that you won't want to do again.

 

[Andy D]

Thanks for the warning. Yah, Bugs were easy to do clutches on. They were under powered and light so stuff wasn't beat on. I put a clutch in an 62 F250 about 40 yrs ago. I usually have some thing mechanical in pieces around the homestead. I peck away until the car is roadworthy, and then baseline the wear items as needed.

 

[Will]

That's what I do--fix exactly what needs to be fixed. I don't spend money on parts that still work.