Recently I was really excited and surprised to find a NOS V8 engine side clutch z-bar pivot kit on eBay. I did the "Buy it Now" I think and it was expensive. Anyway it had the two piece bushing, the engine block pivot, and the push rod/linkage bushings. I found out what the two small holes in the z-bar were for the hard way. Without the clip installed my rare find ended up somewhere between home and the area I was test driving my new drivetrain a few weeks ago. I spent about 5 hours making the bronze parts in the photo at the machine shop where I work...in addition to the $100 for a custom ground 27/32 ball endmill. In other words, I'm not really interested in trying to make another set. It was really hard, but everything came out nice. I had to make each half completely separate. I drilled out the retaining clip holes for an 8-32 dog-point set screw with a jam nut. I guess the only thing worse than not being able to find an incredibly rare NOS part you need for your car is finding it and losing it! I really should have thought about what was supposed to keep the thing in place.
I'm confused ... Did you make the mount or the bushing or both? How did you lose the bushing by not installing the retaining pin? Here is a set of bushings ... I have not checked them out yet to determine if they are correct: http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy01.asp?T1=7543C+01&Category=&catkey=emustang Also ... I think I have a set of the original nylon bushing halves I could have helped you out with .... Dan P.S. ... if you or somebody did fab that engine side pivot ... awesome job! Looks just like the original!
I made the bronze pieces. I just polished the ball pivot. The plastic bushings slipped out because I did not install the retaining clip. The kit I got didn't include the clip. The z-bar slid over toward the frame enough to let the bushings fall out. The clutch felt "funny" but still worked. I obviously didn't know replacement bushings were available Well, at least I didn't lose the truly rare part...the ball pivot...right? Or does Target sell 'em now
Well now that you have the custom end mill and the knowledge of how to do it. You're all set to make some more. The first one always takes the longest.
I have wrestled with those bushings many times trying to get the V8 z-bar installed around a set of headers. I do no see any way the bushings could slip out without the z-bar completely coming off the mount. My car has very little play left to right between the engine and frame z-bar mounts.
I had a motor mount break a couple years ago, I would think the engine would have to twist thru the hood for those to fall out. But Frank,, that is the best thinking so far as how it happened. Dan
Nice looking part. I think there could possibly be a market for them too. The original Ford part was plastic, wasn't it? Seems to me that the bronze bushing would feel better at the pedal than the plastic. I would put some sort of graphite in there for lube though. Maybe even use a graphite impregnated type of bronze. (If they actually make something like that)
I understand what you guys are saying. The motor mounts are brand new so I don't really know what happened either. I'll take a closer look at it when I put it in this time. I made the bushing out of oil-impregnated bronze called "Oilite"
Dang that hurts! Here, let me buy you a new plastic one and you can just send me that icky oilite one you made...I'll dispose of it for you!
Maybe the bushings are still inside the z-bar? I always thought the Maverick z-bar setup was kinda goofy.
