VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 Switching out a cone clutch for a flat plate clutch?

Have a 1922 490 with a cone clutch. Is it possible to replace a cone clutch with a simple flat plate clutch?

If so, is this a huge (expensive) project?

Hello WVChevy490

In the spirit of helping you find an answer.

I do not have a 490, but have worked on 2 of them. Rather interestingly simple.

If you could find the remains of about a '25 superior, or model K you might be able to do it. You would have to rob the flywheel, starter, pressure plate, clutch disc, transmission, parking brake, clutch and brake pedals, clutch cover, bell housing, etc. Pretty well everything between the back of the engine, and the front of the drive shaft. Even then you might not have it all because I think the drive line changed in that era and you might have to make your own connecting linkage to the u-joint. Then fashion a new toe board, and floor board. At that point you may be getting close, but you will know what you may be missing to finish it up.

Oh yeah by the way you will probably have to rob the crankshaft too because the earlier engine would not have the recess in the rear to insert the pilot bushing. The unknown part would be that the cast iron "bell housing" that bolts to the back of the engine was used to align the main bearing line boring machine to the transmission. Since this part was taken off of another engine it may or may not line up. Another member checked his after the fact and it was 1/8" out of alignment. It is not the stamped steel "clutch cover", I have not heard of anyone checking those to see if there were significant differences from one to another.

It would not be original anymore but you could just take the '25 donor parts and insert them into your frame. Or contact the tech advisor for that model and get the cone clutch operating as best it can.

Not sure this helps but at least you would have an idea as to what kind of a job it would be.

Art

The engine block for the '25 and up is very different than the 490 and '23-'24' Superiors. The flat disk clutch cars have extra mounts cast into the block to mount the bellhousing and all of the brackets. It's your car, but I think it would be much easier, cheaper, and have more confidence with the cone clutch. Personally, my cone clutch was great for many years but I had problems with a very large hill and I have had some issues with mine since.

If you want pictures of the clock differences, let me know and I can take some pictures.

. I understand that the cone clutch works well when Neatsfoot oil is applied. It's a messy job and needs to be done frequently. I saw the owner crawl under his truck with a can at the Bowling Green meet and it was done in a few minutes. .
. Lou .

. I understand that the cone clutch works well when Neatsfoot oil is applied. It's a messy job and needs to be done frequently. I saw the owner crawl under his truck with a can at the Bowling Green meet and he was done in a few minutes. .
. If you don't wish to deal with the cone clutch and want to get your 22 on the road, I would suggest removing your 1922 engine and transmission and replacing it with a 1925 - 28 engine and transmission. The 22 has 6 splines on the torque tube and the 28 has 10 so you will have to piece together a U-joint from both years. The motor mounts are different. Save the 22 parts if you decide to make it original in the future. .
. Good luck, . Lou .

Thanks, Art, very much for your comprehensive note. 'Sorry not to have gotten back to you sooner. I've forwarded your note to a friend who is quite knowledgeable in such matters to see what cost might be involved. The car has been restored, but the clutch is - as mentioned earlier - problematic. Again, thank you so very much.

Chris

I've just learned from a mechanic friend that the problem may lie with the fly wheel (not the clutch itself), so that's gonna be explored first. I appreciate your reply.

Thanks for posting another alternative, Lou. Now, I've got much food for thought.

I've applied Neats Foot periodically (but, perhaps, not enough). I read online somewhere that substituting Kevlar for the traditional leather on a cone clutch has benefits. Will consult with my restorer about that. Much thanks.

I have used Fluid Film from the spray can with the straw attached on my cone clutch for 3 years ,no problems