Toploader Conversion Wrapped Up...Mostly

[Diogenes]

I finally put the Galaxie back on the ground and turned the key tonight on my C6 to close ratio toploader conversion. Things went pretty well, except for a ground issue that is presently evading me; it's not horrible, but slow turn signals, no fuel gauge or horn, and an electric fan that sometimes cycles when key is off and hazards are turned on--weird. Other than that, it runs well with the 3.89 gear, though only ran it up and down my road a couple times--the Ford shifter isn't the greatest, with 2nd to 3rd being an adventure when I was taking it easy, but a spirited run and it shifted quite well.

Thanks to all on this site for the wealth of information that assisted me in the conversion.

[Gaugster]

Good that things went mostly well. I can appreciate the irony. I did a transmission conversion but my two main issues were both carburetor related. Some things never change....

[fryedaddy]

what flywheel and clutch did you use

[Diogenes]

I used the steel flywheel that was included with the transmission as it looked good, not sure of the manufacturer. The clutch is a McLeod https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-75148/make/ford

Another minor problem I ran into was the mini-starter I bought from Summit, which worked on my C6, wouldn't engaged the flywheel. The bendix kicked out, but the started was spaced too far from the flywheel. Fortunately, I held onto my rebuilt OEM, which worked fine. 

[Rory428]

I have that same style McLeod Street Pro 11" Long style clutch in my 59, except I have the 1 1/16" input shaft, since I am running a small input Toploader . Really like the pedal feel and take up, with the factory mechanical clutch linkage, and the pedal effort is fairly light, and smooth. I have not tried it with slicks yet, hopefully get a chance in a couple of months.

[fryedaddy]

anyone ever try the centerforce clutch kits.i saw them in my summit mag.

[blykins]

anyone ever try the centerforce clutch kits.i saw them in my summit mag.

I've fielded hundreds of clutch kit orders in the time I've been in business.  You wouldn't believe the amount of complaints I get from customers wanting to replace their CF clutch kits. 

[Diogenes]

The pedal effort was minimal during the short time I drove it, though I expected as much with the assist spring in the Galaxie bell crank. The Cougar I had started life with an OEM replacement long style clutch, a Perfection kit if I recall, it worked fine. I later rebuilt the toploader and installed a Centerforce, I thought it worked well also, but came to view them as something of a gimmick. The pedal effort was considerable with both, but the Courgar doesn't have an assist spring. Thus far, the McLeod feels pretty good and I didn't hear any chatter, but it's still early. Hope to have some sunshine this weekend so I can put some miles on it.

[fryedaddy]

anyone ever try the centerforce clutch kits.i saw them in my summit mag.

I've fielded hundreds of clutch kit orders in the time I've been in business.  You wouldn't believe the amount of complaints I get from customers wanting to replace their CF clutch kits.

i heard they had vibration problems back in the 90s but i havn't heard anything lately.i thought they might have addressed the problem .what were the complaints about?i was thinking about it because i have bad knees.i dont know if i could hold a stiff clutch pedal on a hill or not.

[427John]

Had a centerforce in my Starliner 20+ years ago and it worked fine except that it had a disturbing habit of every now and then when doing a high rpm shift it would stay at the floor and wouldn't release, completely lost confidence in it and replaced it with a long clutch and never had it happen again.

[cjshaker]

i heard they had vibration problems back in the 90s but i havn't heard anything lately.i thought they might have addressed the problem .what were the complaints about?i was thinking about it because i have bad knees.i dont know if i could hold a stiff clutch pedal on a hill or not.

Line Locs were originally designed as "hill holders", and they still work great for that task. Makes it much easier, not having to double foot it on the brake and clutch while stopped on a hill, then doing the heel/toe thing on the gas and brake pedals for takeoff. I'm not a fan of holding the clutch in on stops anyway. It just wears out the thrust bearing quicker.

[fryedaddy]

i heard they had vibration problems back in the 90s but i havn't heard anything lately.i thought they might have addressed the problem .what were the complaints about?i was thinking about it because i have bad knees.i dont know if i could hold a stiff clutch pedal on a hill or not.

Line Locs were originally designed as "hill holders", and they still work great for that task. Makes it much easier, not having to double foot it on the brake and clutch while stopped on a hill, then doing the heel/toe thing on the gas and brake pedals for takeoff. I'm not a fan of holding the clutch in on stops anyway. It just wears out the thrust bearing quicker.

the line-loks is a good idea.i always gear down before stopping and i throw it in neutral before stopping,but some situations call for holding the clutch in briefly a few seconds or so on a steep hill is what worried me.

[fryedaddy]

good luck with the conversion.hope you get good service out of it