Clutch Slave Cylinder: From Pull to Push:
After talking to Bill from Southern Automotive, he convinced me that I could resolve my clutch issues by changing to a push type clutch slave cylinder from the wilwood pull type. The pull type should work but he said they are just not heavy duty enough to handle his set up but that they are great for circle track cars, etc. Luckily, I had to push type slave cylinders in my stock so I could at least try a couple of different fitment options.

Bill includes a kit with his engines that includes a bracket, hydraulic line, push rod and mounting bolts to make it all work.



The mounting location is behind the block and scatter shield. You will see two bolt holes here:



These holes don't exactly line up with the holes on the clutch slave cylinder. This is why Bill supplies a plate to adapt it to the mounting holes.



While I mocked up my new setup, I removed the old pull type. As you can see in the picture below, my set up didn't work so well......look at the bend in that bolt! This was gusseted and everything! Should have used Grade 8 bolts like I have everywhere else on the car.


Now that I removed the old system, I took the extra long bolt that Bill sent me and threaded it through the bell housing and out to the backside where the slave cylinder will mount. This will be the stud for the lower mounting hole.



After I placed the into location, I noticed that Bill's setup doesn't work on Hurricanes. There is a frame gusset that doesn't allow enough space for the slave cylinder (others had warned me of this but wanted to make sure myself). As a result, I took my other slave cylinder and "egg shaped" the top hole so that the mounting holes on the slave cylinder itself could fit the holes/stud on the block. I also took a moment to drill a hole through the bell housing for the return spring.



This mounting position places the slave cylinder closer to the block giving more than enough clearance.


I plugged up the old pull type mounting holes through the frame with some rubber grommets to keep water out.



I am still having issues with the clutch fork. It isn't centered right on the fulcrum. It is a two man job to help get that into position....would be much easier on a rack! Need to work on that one later.