85 K 10 Clutch

[Mule man]

I just bought an '85 K 10 with a NP 465 tranny and a 350 engine.  The clutch is too stiff and you have to push the pedal through the carpet to get it to release. I called the previous owner and he said the engine/bell housing was out of an 89 K5.  I know most parts specify 85-87 year models and then up.  I think the geometry is wrong with the current parts.  Does anybody know what parts will interchange between an 85 and an 89?  I think all that would be involved would be the master cylinder, slave cylinder, clutch fork. fork pivot ball, throwout bearing, clutch/pressure plate.   I am having problems finding interchangeability between years.  Thanks for any help you can give.

[Captkaos]

An 89 K5 is the same setup as a 85 K10.

[zieg85]

Check for firewall movement when you push the pedal.  If none your pressure plate isn't working as it should.  I have had that problem where it seemed to start grabbing about 1/2 way out but to disengage the pedal had to be on the floor and sometimes to get it into reverse or low you had to go quickly from 2nd before the transmission had a chance to start moving.

[Mule man]

OK, I will check.  Sometimes the firewall and master cylinder move forward when you push on the clutch pedal?  I can see where that slop would reduce the slave cylinder movement.  What is the fix for that?  Thanks.

[bake74]

     On topic with zieg, check and make sure all your bolts are tight for the clutch above your foot area, when I got my newest truck I had a problem with the whole clutch pedal moving and causing weird things.

[zieg85]

Not saying this is your problem however I question, #1 was this an automatic truck converted to stick shift.  #2 was the hydraulic pedal set up used in the conversion?  The difference in pedal set ups are pictured in this thread, note the extra braces that go to the firewall.  

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=20862.0   is where you will see pictures of the two different styles.  

Your slave cylinder may be on its last leg as well, right before the one in my 85 went out I had a hard pedal and was hard to get it in reverse or first without grinding

[Mule man]

This is an update in case anyone else has this problem.  The clutch fork was hitting the edge of the cutout in the bell housing.  The bell housing has a grease fitting to grease the clutch fork ball.  Bell housing was from an '89.  Greaseable  clutch fork ball for an '89 is 1 11/16ths of an inch tall.  The '85 ball on the bell housing was only 1 1/2 inch tall.  The extra 3/16 height solved the clearance issues.  Finally, a sweet clutch : )