[79firebird_99TA]

Does anyone have any recommendations? I've seen a few vendors that make them and they seem pretty straight forward. After buying my C8 a few weeks ago with it's 6 speed manual, I said "hell no" to the clutch on the Firebird!!

Any help or comments would be appreciated.

[67Fbird]

this is a good start.... alot of stuff over on nasty.
https://nastyz28.com/threads/2nd-gen...5#post-3777121

from some of the reading it is pretty straight forward stuff.....mounting the cylinder is the only touchy feely thing.

[FrankieT/A]

I have a hydraulic TOB in my 71. I use the master off an 85 Camaro and a Ram TOB and it works fine. If I were to do it again I would use the system that Silver Sport markets which was not available when I did mine. It's well thought out and looks to me it would work perfectly. JMO

https://shiftsst.com/silver-sport-tr...ulics-kit.html

[tom s]

JMHO,if good factory linkage is avail I would not put a hyd in again.Have done 2 where I had to because of no factory linkage(63 tempest).Have done both auto to stick conversions in birds and GTOs and have had no issue with factory linkage.Tom

[79firebird_99TA]

Good stuff. It looks the McLeod might be the way to go. Being that it's the 79 with the glass fuses, I'm reading that the 80 and 81 with it's blade style fuses protrude over more to the left and are problematic for the install.

[79firebird_99TA]

Originally Posted by tom s

JMHO,if good factory linkage is avail I would not put a hyd in again.Have done 2 where I had to because of no factory linkage(63 tempest).Have done both auto to stick conversions in birds and GTOs and have had no issue with factory linkage.Tom

That's interesting. I actually was looking to change the z-bar and actually all of the linkage to something that I saw once. I can't find it, but everything was sleeved and not this rod in a hole (not sure what else to call it) that the Firebird has. It's so much friction that I have to make sure that the rod doesn't cut itself through the zbar- which wouldn't be fun if that happened on the road.

[ID67goat]

There are lots of kits out there to convert to hydraulic. I thought about doing this also but the factory stuff is working fine for me.

This place is local to me, I have toured their shop and they have nice products.

https://www.moderndriveline.com/shop...ch-master-kit/

[79firebird_99TA]

I saw that kit and it looks very promising. When I bought my C8 last week, I stalled it out once driving it home from the purchase LOL. Much shorter throw of the clutch pedal and very easy to push. The pedal actually rolls off the ball of my foot in 1st and 2nd ... The Firebird, on the other hand, is a very long throw and my foot is solid on the pedal and I use my leg to clutch it. Two totally different animals to the point where I don't even want to drive the Firebird.

[chuckies76ta]

I used the Setup from American Power-train in my 76 T.A. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...bird/year/1976 It appears they have added a bracket upgrade to the new kit as I did send feedback to American Power-train on the issue of side loading the piston. https://americanpowertrain.com/shop/...icho-t5-lenco/

I had issues with the first cylinder leaking because of side loading the piston. I did some home work and found a better and stronger cylinder like the one Silver sport supplies in there kit. I also made a custom bracket to center the pushrod so it doesn't side load the piston. It's been fine since that.

I like the kit Silver Sport has because of the cylinder. It's been a great upgrade to my driving experience imo.

[79firebird_99TA]

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

I used the Setup from American Power-train in my 76 T.A. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...bird/year/1976 It appears they have added a bracket upgrade to the new kit as I did send feedback to American Power-train on the issue of side loading the piston. https://americanpowertrain.com/shop/...icho-t5-lenco/

I had issues with the first cylinder leaking because of side loading the piston. I did some home work and found a better and stronger cylinder like the one Silver sport supplies in there kit. I also made a custom bracket to center the pushrod so it doesn't side load the piston. It's been fine since that.

I like the kit Silver Sport has because of the cylinder. It's been a great upgrade to my driving experience imo.

Thanks for your input on that piece so that it could be made better. That's exactly what I'm looking for. In addition to the hard pedal, I've also got some clutch chatter and at times, there is a vibration in the clutch housing - mostly felt on the highway. All that to say is, I'll do this upgrade while I'm replacing the clutch.
Also correction: I purchased a C6 not a C8 as I said in my last post.

[chuckies76ta]

Your welcome. The clutch chatter is a pain in the rear for driving experience. It's annoying. I went with an 11" clutch from ACT. GM6-HDSS - HD/Perf Street Sprung. It has a strong clamping force so it holds good, but takes more pedal force to push. The other thing I like about this clutch is that it was SFI approved. That's where the hydraulic clutch help reduce the force somewhat and is nice and smooth. Also the clutch material you use can change driving comfort. I went organic. More forgiving on release. My car is street only. There are some good clutches out there. Do you home work.

So was the Flywheel that I installed. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...tiac/year/1976

I also went with a Quicktime bellhousing SFI approved and for safety. https://www.holley.com/products/driv.../parts/RM-8070

Make sure to dial in your bellhousing. Also, doesn't hurt to buy yourself a nice billet steel flywheel if your gonna install a new clutch. If not a least have it turned and checked for balancing.

[Scott65]

I have used the McLeod in a hydraulic TOB application. It was a vehicle specific kit (not Pontiac). It worked well and was pretty straightforward to install. It was a nice upgrade in our application.

[79firebird_99TA]

What's a bummer to me is that I never really minded the Firebird's clutching that much. It's all I knew. Again, now that I'm driving that C6, it's darn near intolerable. I appreciate the input - I'll have some time to make a decision and get it done.

[Formula8]

Off subject but did you say C8 with a six speed??? I was under the impression that the Mid-engined C8 only came with an 8 dual clutch auto: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...-transmission/

[79firebird_99TA]

Good catch. I corrected myself earlier in this thread. I have a C6 not a C8.

[FrankieT/A]

Originally Posted by ID67goat

There are lots of kits out there to convert to hydraulic. I thought about doing this also but the factory stuff is working fine for me.

This place is local to me, I have toured their shop and they have nice products.

https://www.moderndriveline.com/shop...ch-master-kit/

I put that whole kit together myself for $80 using all brand new parts...50,000 plus miles no issues