Hydraulic Clutch Swap Info

[4g63mightymax]

Parts used
Starquest:
- Transmission Tail & Shifter (used to move shifter back a few inches, nothing to do with hydraulic clutch)

Pre-1987 Ram 50 turbo diesel
- Clutch master cylinder
- Slave cylinder
- Metal and rubber lines
- Bellhousing cutout

DSM:
- FWD flywheel with pilot bearing machined into center
- Turbo DSM pressure plate

Starquest tail section






Hydraulic clutch parts!



Clutch Pedal In!


Crazy bracket made to mount the pedal solidly!



Under the dash view.


Wideblock 5-speed's have the spot for the pivot ball to screw into. However, the back side of it needs to be highly modified for it to work. It may be easier to make your own mount for it? Your choice.


Clutch master cylinder in the place!


Frankenstein'ed bellhousing & slave cylinder mount done!

[4g63mightymax]

Here is what a stock V6 Ram 50 clutch pedal looks like for reference.






These pics are also of a stock hydraulic pedal.

[4g63mightymax]

If I were to make a recommendation, I would buy:

From an early 1980's Ram 50 turbo diesel / 87+ V6 Ram 50...

- Slave cylinder
- Master cylinder
- Source a clutch pedal from one of these trucks also (not easy, start looking now)
- Clutch fork (probably the same as some other cars, Maaaaaaybe even DSM's? Worth investigating)
- Either use a clutch fluid line from the trucks above or make your own.

THEN!:
- Cut a hole in the side of the transmission for the clutch fork
- Weld two "bungs" onto the bellhousing in the right spot to hold the slave cylinder. Don't cut up the transmission like I did. It looks sloppier.
- Either weld in a "bung" for the pivot ball or use one the TOB shaft housing thingy from a wideblock 5-speed. Doing so requires some grinding to the back side of it though which is a hassle.

THEN!:
- Assemble parts, bleed clutch master cylinder - Love life.

-Jeremy

[300D50]

Nice to see you got the time to do it!
Any improvement in control over the cable?
Can you still "feel" the clutch the same?

I might have go this route since I can't seem to adjust the cable right, it's eaither have it fully engage, but not fully disengage, or have it fully disengage but never fully engage...

Any recommendations?

[4g63mightymax]

Other than the 4G63, this is the best upgrade I have done to the truck. The clutch feels like perfection. You can feel the clutch just fine, it disengages properly and doesn't move the firewall. There is nothing not to love about this swap.

Do it!

-Jeremy

[300D50]

Any opinion on hydraulic throwout bearings?
It looks like finding a V6 donor truck won't happen any time soon. :/

[4g63mightymax]

Hydraulic throw out bearings are pretty cool. I haven't seen one actually working in a 4G63 setup myself, but a local guy that a few of us know is using one in a 4G63 TR7. Check it out!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2472999/5

-Jeremy

[300D50]

Oooh goody goody, someone's already done the hard work!

Jeremy, I could hug you...
Printed and saved, cross-checking, then checking my card limit...

EDIT: Damn, I forgot I need the damn master cylinder as well...

[vr4x4]

Well I was at his house checking that out and he said its almost impossible to blead out all the air and would NEVER use one of those again. But that just his $.02 via me

[300D50]

My issue is I'm not finding any diesel trannies to pilfer, and a V6 tranny is non-existent... Jeremy gets all the cool stuff

Was he just pump bleeding, or using a mightyvac/pressure bleeder?

[4g63mightymax]

I think starquest parts work, and I bet Greg can find them for us. Right Greg?

-Jeremy

[vr4x4]

I'm not sure what he was using, well I guess its time for greg to give nthe option #2 on this hydro setup using all the starquest parts like I did. Ill post tonight my way and give all the info I don't have with me.

I modified everything so that all you need is a
Conquest pivot ball
Conquest clutch fork
Conquest throwout
Conquest slave
That's about it.

[300D50]

What about the master? That's the thing that's tripping me up :/

[4g63mightymax]

Biggity Bam - Team Greg & Jeremy FTW!

[vr4x4]

I just bought a whole conquest pedal, ill post pictures when I get home. The willwood ones are not expensive, maybe that's an option