5-speed clutch question

Art,
The clutch is very heavy, it was almost a deal breaker for my ownership.
I have since had a leg build up and now am used to it. I think I need to by a Harley that I have to kick start to balence my legs.

It is harder than the 1970 454 engined Corvette clutch to push.
Fritz

 

+1

There is nothing delicate about the clutch, the steering or the gearshift on these cars.

John

 

The 5 speed that I drove a couple weeks back was on the firm side! But it did work perfectly

 

Mine felt incredibly heavy. After the rebuild if its remains the same, i'll attempt to machine a new attachment (transfer lever mounted on the side of the bell housing) that will ease the pedal pressure at the cost of clutch travel... obviously. I think it will require more upkeep on the clutch adjustment, but i can live with that.

 

Art, mine was a daily driver for 5 years, an absolute tank, but the clutch was, as others have noted, a B*TCH! Like trying to drive a dump truck in traffic. I loved the car, but made sure that my next one was a 412A that is an improvement in ALL respects. I have never once regretted going with the auto. Different strokes.....

 

Art think tractor. It's as un-delicate as it gets.

 

The one that I drove a couple of weeks back wasn't all that heavy. In fact, the one on my GT4 is much heavier. It didn't have a lot of feel though. It felt like it had some hydraulic leak or something. I couldn't feel when it would start gripping. I didn't like it very much and very much prefer the one on the GT4...

Hans

 

My guess is it's the springs in the pressure plate that is mostly responsible for this, anyone consider disconnecting the pedal spring behind the dash to lighten the load a little?

 

i gotta be honest with you Hans, i think you must have driven a stinker because trust me, a good 400 does not pale in comparison to a good GT4. they're obviously different, but only because they are different and certainly not because the GT4 is a better performer per se.
a poorly running 400 can feel like a tractor. you've really got to get your hands on the wheel of a good car. it is fantastic.
... and the motor just never gives up in the way an 8 does.

how was the move ? how is the new place ? i've shown some friends the pics of your hood and the votes are in...it's unanimous...COOL.

 

Oh, that 400 I drove pulled allright. It would do 110 mph in the blink of an eye. It's just that it did it with so little drama (except for a lot of engine barking through the non-standard exhaust) that it just didn't get me the driver satisfaction that my little GT4 gets me (in spades). It just felt a lot like... err... the big GT that it was. Basically, I found out that I was just looking for the wrong car. I'm more Lotus than Lincoln, if you get what I mean. Creature comfort doesn't do much for me, nimble road manners all the more. Even for everyday drive, I'd pick the car that communicates to me about every grain of sand on the road, rather than one that smoothes things out.

So I've decided to stick to just my GT4 for now.

I'm always open for offers to drive a well-sorted 400 though - this is one case where I'd really love to be proven wrong

Thanks for the kind words on my new place. The move went well (albeit exhausting) and most stuff is sorted out by now. We finally have our bathroom ready, the central heating works, walk-in closet finished, boxes emptied, etc. Just waiting on the arrival of the kitchen (in two weeks). Luckily, we're smack in the middle of town, surrounded by little restaurants, so we won't starve before that . Starting to learn more about the amazing history of this place. The canals were dug at around the year 1100, and the houses were built around that same time. We've been scanning the internet for photos, and the oldest one that we've found with our house on it is dated 1857. How cool is that?

Just come and see for yourself

 

When you say tractor, for the operation and feel of the clutch, Do you mean like a Lamborghini tractor?

Ciao...Paolo