i have a 69 z28 with a 1998 big block it has an auto trans in it now i want to convert it back to 4 speed on the block side im looking for where to in stall pivot ball on block . im not sure if this engine even has a location for this ball anybody out there have a newer engine with 4 speed installed . i really need help on this one . no more hair to pull out thanks guys :clonk:

You need to drill and tap the block or there is a bracket for the behllhousing from my understanding.(never seen it)

Assuming you mean the throw-out bearing that the fork rides on- this is mounted on the bellhousing typically. I agree with Vegas. Of course really new motor like that- I've never seen one.

Actually he is talking about the Z Bar ball stud on the block from my understanding.

If the engine block don't have a threaded hole, on the drivers side, for a ballstud then don't waste your time as the crank probably won't be drilled either to accept a pilot bushing, due to this engine being an automatic transmission application!

Really...they made two crankshafts?

If the engine block don't have a threaded hole, on the drivers side, for a ballstud then don't waste your time as the crank probably won't be drilled either to accept a pilot bushing, due to this engine being an automatic transmission application!
thanks ron good advise i never new that. another dream bashed owww that hurts auto it is ,any idea what year blocks still had threaded holes thanks again

thanks ron good advise i never new that. another dream bashed owww that hurts auto it is ,any idea what year blocks still had threaded holes thanks again


I can't speak for the "Gen" series of engine blocks but I know that the "Mark IV" blocks, up until 1990, had the threaded ballstud hole to mount the clutch Z-Bar.


On a side note, you could have just as much fun with your automatic tranny with a shift kit, a higher stall torque converter and deeper rear end gears!

News to me b/c I thought the converter snout fit in the hole where the pilot bushing goes??

As for Z-bar ball stud holes, we have had up to three holes at one time, one in the bell housing, one right in front of the block's rear flange and a third one in front like 4" or so.

Mark IV blocks always had one if not two block stud holes. And I think the bell housing hole is for the Big Cars and Big Trucks.

My stock '67 350SS's bell housing has the hole, but it's not threaded.

pdq67

PS., if you have a Gen V or VI that doesn't have any holes, SDPP's sell's a Z-bar stud bracket for I figure less than I can make one for!!

I had to drill my crate 502......no big deal. The crank was drilled for the pilot bushing already.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/3shields/69%20camaro/69-2008-0601004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/3shields/69%20camaro/69-2008-0609013.jpg

Nice set-up/appearance.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/3shields/69%20camaro/69-2008-0609013.jpgSo your Z-bar is perpendicular to the subframe rail?
I'm asking this because several other members have BBC's with manual trans and the majority have the Z-bar angled a little.

Mine is the same.....mine had to be tapped and I have a Gen VI. Believe me the Gen V and Vi are different animals. I'd bet you can drill and tap the block and put a pilot bearing in no problem. You can also find a bracket as I mentioned before if you can't drill the hole in the car.

i have a 69 z28 with a 1998 big block it has an auto trans in it now i want to convert it back to 4 speed on the block side im looking for where to in stall pivot ball on block . im not sure if this engine even has a location for this ball anybody out there have a newer engine with 4 speed installed . i really need help on this one . no more hair to pull out thanks guys :clonk:
you won't find where to put it because that new of an engine would have a hydraulic clutch so they didn't need the hole for a z bar,you could go with a hydraulic set up

Wrong....there is a stud boss cast right into the block. That is a Gen VI block in either 454 or 502 casting. Here is my Gen VI block with my z bar stud that was drilled and tapped. I used a smal block z bar since I chose to center my drivetrain and have a custom subframe and headers, crossmember.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/Payback1969/IMG_0814.jpg