I recently my 289 motor. It has a three speed manual backing it up. I got it all back together and it runs great except when your taking off it doesn't want to take off quickly. Its not slipping, it feels more like you're about to kill it. It starts to vibrate really bad, but only when you take off from a dead stop. If you are rolling and you let the clutch out it takes off fine! I'm pretty confused by the problem, it feels like the first time I drove a stick shift every time I drive it!! (my driving is not th problem although I wish it was, I had some one else drive it just to be safe) Could this be an adjustment issue? Also, it is not a new clutch its the same one that was in it before.

 

Clutch Chatter maybe?....Is it a new clutch?

 

Sorry missed the last part about it being an old clutch....Maybe the old clutch is brazed from excessive heat...?

 

Have you checked the LH motor mount?

 

I'd agree. LH motor mount, or possibly worn z-bar bushings/felts. If you can take the z-bar and move it left-right with your hand, it needs new bushings and felts. That can cause the exact same problem.

 

The motor mounts are tight, the z bar however is very loose, is there a trick to replacing these things or is it pretty self explanatory?

 

Z bar is pretty simple to take out. You will be able to find the few mounting bolts on the frame rail and disconnect the springs, just follow the bar and keep the clips for the springs. I wouldn't doubt that you need to replace the bushings on yours if it has never been taken apart. When I replaced my bent Z bar last year the bushings were worn down close to nothing.

 

I've never seen equalizer bushings cause a clutch to chatter. I think you are going to find that the fly wheel, the clutch disc or the pressure plate are the problem. What did they look like when you had it appart?

 

I agree with ponycoupe.

sounds to me like you should have installed a new clutch. You have clutch chatter goin on. your shat is worn out.