Hello Everyone,
I recently moved my 79 camaro for the first time in 12 years, under its own power. and when I released the clutch peddle to engage the clutch the car jerked forward and kind of shuttered, at that point I disengaged the clutch and turned the car off. I was wondering if I should do anything to the car before I try to drive it on the streets, or is the clutch just dirty and I need to drive it? Any advice would be great. The previous owner said the clutch was fairly new before he parked it. The car sat in tall grass and the rain for most of the 12 years. Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me at all. Just like a bare steel brake rotor that rusts up from sitting, so can the clutch flywheel. Take the car out for a drive, and wear off that rust/corrosion.

 

I agree. If you want it to stop you need to "ride" the clutch and slip it a little until the rusty surface works off. You'll notice as you use it that it gets less "grabby" after each use.

 

I had a feeling that this was the case. Thanks for the advice, I will take it out this weekend and do some burn outs to help clean it up.

 

Burnouts probably wont clean it up as quickly as slipping the clutch a little. Back when cars had good bumpers we would "burn in" a new clutch if it was grabbing. We put the front bumper against a tree or post and gradually let the clutch out until we felt it grab. Then hold it there and increase the rpm for a few seconds to slip the clutch and burn it in.

 

Great advice, thank you. I will try that this weekend, then I will go have fun.