Clutch Slipping in 4th Gear?
 

Hey all,
I had the Monte out one day last week and was cruising in 4th gear at about 40mph. The car in front of me slowed down to make a turn, so I had to slow down a bit (maybe 30mph, around 1300 rpm or so in 4th) to navigate around him. I didn't bother to downshift because the motor is a very torquey ZZ4-cammed 355 with a TPI on top. Once I was clear, I stepped on the throttle, the rpms went up real quick, then I smelled that nasty fried clutch smell. If I wail on it from a dead stop, it does not seem to slip in the lower gears, as long as the speed and rpms are up. And if I drive it "sanely" it doesn't slip either.

Since I have mechanical linkage and adjustable upper/lower pushrods off the Z-bar, would lengthening or shortening the lower pushrod help? The clutch is a RAM 88761. Is it possible that it's not totally engaging, and that's why it's slipping? Or is my motor just overpowering the clutch?

:help: I wanted to get the car dyno'd this week at Sickspeedperformance, but if the clutch is slipping, it'll most likely toast on the dyno. Can't have that happen!

Check your clutch for proper adjustment first but usually a clutch will slip in the higher gears just before it really starts to go bad..

Ugh, that's not what I wanted to hear. ;) As long as I can drive it the rest of this season, I'll save up and buy a clutch over the winter and install it. I'll try adjusting it first just, hopefully that'll fix it though.