My '69 has a missing under dash clutch assist spring. As you can imagine, this makes for a tougher pedal effort. My new McLoed dual disc clutch is much lighter than the long style racing pressure plate, but it could still be easier with the stock spring installed. I finally found one of the springs at MU. I crawled up on the floor this weekend, but could not get the clutch pedal to move enough (even after unhooking the clutch linkage) to get the uncompressed spring in place. I tried compressing the spring and holding it compressed with zip ties, but they just exploded. Any ideas how to get this thing in there? Do I need to take the clutch pedal out to get it in?

 

I wouldn't put it in with a diaphragm clutch. Even the heavy McLoed shouldn't be enough to require it. Try running without it first.

If you do need to put it in, you have to remove the retaining pin on the p-side of the clutch pedal shaft, work the pedal back and forth towards the d-side until it gets past the rubber upper travel stop, pull it back towards the cab, then hook the spring on and repeat in reverse.

At least, that's how you do it for 67-68. I believe 69-70 is similar.

 

'69 is a different spring that 67-68. The spring is vertical and does not have the hooks like the 67-68's do. It basically looks like a valve spring with the tag of the spring going through the diameter of the spring which rests on the spring pearches both top and bottom. I think that makes sense. Anyway, it is not a heavy pedal, but was interested in seeing what it felt like with the assist spring installed. Maybe for all that trouble, I will just leave it off .

 

Hmm, yeah, no idea That's what the shop manual is for:P

 

Not a lot of trouble, really. Although the 69-70 used a compression spring rather than a tension spring, the trick outlined by Starfury should still work. Either is an over-center spring, and travelling upward past the stop would relieve all tension/compression.

When you start, disconnect the pushrod before you start. When you install the spring, carefully lower the pedal to the floor, with both hands, because it'll want to go there.