Fordnatics List Archive

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Mail From: "Fontana Peter" <(email redacted)>

> Fontana Peter - I'm interested in the same thing. I was at the racetrack
last
> night and one of the mechanics suggested that I look into the hydro
> unit but didn't know how well it would work on a street car. Have you heard
> anything back?
Well, I just made a couple of calls: the list price for a complete slip-on
McLeod unit is about $265, and my local parts place is quoting a price of
$250 for a Weber unit - "the best". This is all quite depressing - about 5
times what I was expecting! It seems worth looking into the pickup slave
cylinder arrangement utilizing the existing fork.

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Mail From: Dan Malek <(email redacted)>


> Date: 29 Sep 1994 13:47:34 -0500
> From: Fontana Peter <(email redacted)>
>

>....the list price for a complete slip-on
>McLeod unit is about $265, and my local parts place is quoting a price of
>$250 for a Weber unit - "the best". This is all quite depressing - about 5
>times what I was expecting! It seems worth looking into the pickup slave
>cylinder arrangement utilizing the existing fork.

Don't be too depressed. These things are not a panacea. The Busch GN and
Winston Cup teams insist on using these things because of their "simple
installation", but when you walk around the garages you realize they
are not reliable and are a general pain in the butt. Yes, running a
hydraulic line is easier than a cable, but removing/installing the tranny
no less than ten times just for adjustment is not my idea of "simple
installation." Often, when "clutch/transmission" shows up in the
finishing line up "failure" column, it is due to a failure of the
hydraulic throwout.

We continue to use a clutch cable in our Busch GN car, because it is
simple and reliable. The up front design and installation cost was
a little higher, but it has paid off big time. You should consider the
same for your project.


-- Dan

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Mail From: Dan Leih <(email redacted)>

Over the last day or two I have added considerably to the list of
possibilities. Yes, the complete McLeod unit is $250-300. However, the
master cylider is only $75 and is available with a remote reservoir.
That just leaves a slave unit. Chevy offered a complete system for
Camaro's and 'Vettes that fits a T5. I don't know the list but I found
one in a junkyard for $75. My main problem is it's plastic (?) and when
the hose wears out it's history. I found a nice steel slave unit on an
'87 Trans Am. It's <$90 new. That puts a whole new system at $165 less
hose and mounting bracket (and some ingenuity). I have found this unit
at the junkyard too though I need to work on price. If I can find a
used master cyl in good condition I may get out for $100 yet. I'll keep
you all posted on what I find Saturday when I get after this thing.

Dan

___Original Letter _______________________________________
Date: 29 Sep 1994 11:47:34 -0700
Sender: (FORDNATICS-REQUEST)
From: Fontana Peter (FONTANA.PETER)
To: Craig Eid (CRAIGE)
Ford List (FORDNATICS)
Subject: RE: Aftermarket hydraulic throwout bearing

> Fontana Peter - I'm interested in the same thing. I was at the racetrack
last
> night and one of the mechanics suggested that I look into the hydro
> unit but didn't know how well it would work on a street car. Have you heard
> anything back?
Well, I just made a couple of calls: the list price for a complete slip-on
McLeod unit is about $265, and my local parts place is quoting a price of
$250 for a Weber unit - "the best". This is all quite depressing - about 5
times what I was expecting! It seems worth looking into the pickup slave
cylinder arrangement utilizing the existing fork.
___End of Original Letter_________________________________