65-68 Z-Bar Return Spring
 

Part Number:9779217, Group: 0.844

I'm looking for one of these, but they're scarce. There may be a suitable spring that will work from another GM car, but first I need the specs of an original spring. A good photo of the spring lying next to a ruler with the diameter.

K Constant would be very helpful too

i have pics of all the stuff we talked about yesterday, when i get home tonight i will sendthem

You need the return spring, the anti rattle spring or both?

Only the return spring. The anti-rattle is still available through various vendors, but the return spring is not. Can't even find a picture of it anywhere. I have the '66 Parts Catalog, so I kind of know what it looks like. Brad Hanson sent me a pic of one from his car, but wasn't sure if it was a real one or not.

So I either track down a good used one, or find a similar spring for a different GM car that will work.

Mark is going to send me a pic of one too, but he doesn't have any surplus of that part.

I've got to change the starter on the 2+2 this weekend, I'll snap a photo of what is on it when I'm under the car.

ETA my 73 parts book shows that number for 65-66 and 9787243 for 67-70 P/8

I totally guessed that the 67-68 spring was the same, but it may hook to a different location. So the 9779217 spring is 65-66 only.

Don't know, only have the parts section of the 73 book, not the pictures.

I took to snapshots of my spring, but it's hard to make out much, and the bottom side is so grubby., and I don't even know if it is the right spring.... If you want pm me and I'll put them on photobucket and send you a link if you promise not to share. Yes my undercarriage is that nasty dirty.

On a side note, the starter I got from Napa is the long one with the like 1 1/2 spacer., but the solenoid has metric hardware and the terminal for the start line and is bigger than SAE. Nothing beats trying to hog out a ring terminal while dodging the starter, exhaust and clutch linkage to make it fit. Add to that everything I work on is SAE ( even the aircraft ) and it makes for a bad evening...

I'll PM you for the link to view the pictures. For the starter issue, I know what you mean. It's a little crowded around it...try it with long branch headers. With those you have to jack the motor and drop the left header to remove the starter.

As a side note, if you have an original starter, alternator etc, it's better to have them rebuilt by a place that does that. Just dropped the alternator off for my car at a place here in Minneapolis.

The bendix went out and I wanted a starter now. :) I'll rebuild the one I pulled and keep it as a spare.

Is this not the correct spring that I sent you a picture of last month?

It looks correct to me, but I've never seen another example for comparison. I'm looking for verification.

It does look like the spring shown in the '66 Parts Catalog, but that's just a drawing. I did find a website called http://www.4speedconversions.com that has a large variety of 60s to 80s GM 4 speed parts, but nothing specific for B Body Pontiacs, just A Body...of course. I'm thinking there's a similar spring that will work.

ok heres what i have

the bracket welds to the center of the frame side to side..the upright of the bracket is in the center, not the edge of the flat that goes on the frame
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psmzfrti8r.jpg

the location in length is from the center of the bolt that holds the brake valve to the center of the bracket/slot that holds the z-bar is 5 inches dead on
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbgqjfufc.jpg

heres the real spring and it broke taking it off..and the piece is in the frame and cant get to it, i remember them having the big hook on both ends, and it goes forward to the core support..not to the back of the car...many people mistake the direction,,,it was longer on the end that goes to the front of the car..in other words it looks like the made up one below..its missing one whole coil now...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psxyg19g4c.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps1f0lwjxh.jpg

and this one is off my other car, and i can tell its made up..ive had 4 or 5 real ones and this is an over the counter spring prob from a parts store or hardware store its not very strong compared to the real one, but works perfect its 5/8 od

http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...psgbf9lbfg.jpg

side by side..the coils are the same length..i think with pics a guy could make up a spring...i will get a mic and figure out the wire size on the real spring
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...pstsnnqcwh.jpg

bummer it broke..now i need to source 3 for my cars...i have some springs new somewhere i will dig them up and compare and post comparisons

Keep looking for a reasonable substitute, so far no luck. Find anymore, Mark?

the springs dorman offers
http://www.dormanproducts.com/c-232-...n-springs.aspx

this one is close
Dorman 29007
Coil Length 1 - 7/8" Coil Diameter 3/4"
Overall Length 8 - 1/2"


ebay
US $5.95 free shipping
quan 2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clutch-Pedal...1V-wPH&vxp=mtr


or just search for
Dorman 29007

or go to local parts store in help s Dorman section

I have 3-4 of the springs like you show in the pic where you have a broken one next to the tape measure. I'll measure them in the AM & let you know These came in a bunch of stuff I got from a dealership when they were doing their end of the year inventory & they were just throwing all these boxs of stuff out & being the service mgr. there I took all the parts home & have been using & selling some over the years. I've done this with 3 different dealerships in the last 15 or so years so I at one time had a bunch of stuff but have sold or given away a lot to. I think the ones I have are correct. Rex.

I could use a couple myself for my restoration!

I also find myself looking for a clutch linkage return spring, p/n 9779217. I will probably buy the Dorman clutch return springs assortment package mentioned above as it still seems that no one is reproing this particular spring. What surprised me is that the donor 4 spd 1966 GP car I have does not have the small hole next to the clutch control countershaft frame bracket that is supposed to anchor one end of the spring. The donor car sat for 20 years and I can no longer recall if it ever had the clutch linkage return spring - as I do not recall ever seeing it maybe it never did. I also do not see the frame anchor hole in the photo that marxjunk posted but maybe that was due to the angle of shot.
I am open to buying an extra spring if someone has a spare.

If you can can find the correct length & wire size you might try checking with McMaster-Carr.

https://www.mcmaster.com/return-spri...-special-ends/

I have a few NOS # 9787410 anti-rattle springs listed for sale if you need one. I listed them a while back on the forum.

JSuchma - I have been able to locate the anti-rattle spring, thanks. For some reason it was easier to find than the clutch linkage return spring and I assume it was used across several car lines.

T.Weber's suggestion is a good one - amazing the variety of springs available. I will have to look more closely at the photos of the 9779217 examples shown in the thread to determine which one is the most likely best fit.