Modern Rodding Tech

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The Hydraulic Clutch is a Good Idea, Using the HydraMax is … A Better Idea
By Brian Brennan Photography by Nate Nelson
The Hydraulic Clutch is a Good Idea, Using the HydraMax is … A Better Idea
1. Scotty Troutman of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop is working on the billet reservoir for the American Powertrain underdash hydraulic clutch and brake pedal assembly.
By Brian Brennan Photography by Nate Nelson
T

he hydraulic clutch turned everyday clutch operation into a pleasure rather than a session at the gym. I’m sure there are plenty of us who can remember the days of waiting at a stoplight as we patiently counted down the seconds for the light to turn green, all the while holding in the clutch pedal. The obligatory leg shakes and cramps are still fresh in our minds. All because we had opted to run a 3,000-pound three-finger clutch. Ah, the days of sheer brute force. The advent of the hydraulic clutch has relieved us of this discomfort. But it’s an offering from American Powertrain in their HydraMax bolt-in underdash hydraulic clutch and pedal system that has taken the hydraulic clutch installation to a new level of ease, comfort, and performance.

The new system features an integrated underdash hydraulic master cylinder and a bolt-in clutch pedal. The included clutch pedal allows for easy conversion to hydraulic or retrofit to an already-existing hydraulic clutch by now taking much of the guesswork out of setting the system up correctly. It also speeds up and makes converting from an automatic to a manual transmission that much easier and quicker. The American Powertrain HydraMax bolt-in underdash hydraulic clutch and pedal system is easy to install and requires no complicated adjustments and saves you from wandering wrecking yards for hard-to-find pedals.

The significant advantage of the hydraulic clutch is the ease of use and the smoother clutch pedal feel. Unlike the traditional mechanical clutch there is no need for adjustment. If there is fluid in the reservoir hydraulic clutches self-adjust and are known to last a very long time.

The American Powertrain HydraMax kit is all inclusive. The kit comes with a 3/4-inch bore master cylinder, a correct ratio clutch pedal, -3 AN braided line, and a billet HydraMax slave cylinder bearing. It should be noted that the hydraulic pedal is also available for purchase separately, with no hydraulic slave. (For more on installing a hydraulic clutch, see Modern Rodding Apr. ’22, where we hooked up a hydraulic clutch behind our LS engine with a TREMEC.)

It should be noted that the slave cylinder bearing is pre-bled, dual-sealed, and comes with shims to adjust the distance to the clutch finders for any type of clutch setup. Also included is a fluid reservoir. (When installing the reservoir make sure it is at the same height or higher, as it is gravity fed, as the firewall-mounted master cylinder.) The range of transmissions that the American Powertrain system will work with includes any TREMEC transmission, including the T5, TKO/TKX, and T56 Magnum six-speed.

To get the lowdown on the latest HydraMax pedal system from American Powertrain we paid a visit to Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop. We found Scotty Troutman installing one of the systems on a Tri-Five Chevy. The installation is fundamentally the same for all kits that American Powertrain makes for this system: ’64-72 GM A-body cars, ’67-81 GM F-body, and ’62-74 GM Nova. (There is also a full listing of GM trucks that the HyrdaMax system will fit.)

In speaking with the technicians at American Powertrain they tell us the kit is a ready-to-use system, making it ideal for the do-it-yourselfer hot rodder. The pedal has the clutch master cylinder mounted to the pedal assembly, complete with hose and a ratio correct pedal. By having the correct pedal ratio, it prevents you from inadvertently overstroking or understroking the system, thereby guaranteeing a perfect pedal every time. There is minimal hardware consisting of a few bolts and a new sleeve and it is all provided.

You will pull out the factory clutch pedal and then install the provided American Powertrain pedal. Once installed you will notice that the new clutch pedal and factory brake pedal have their same OE relationship. Included in the kit is a new bolt with a machined sleeve that allows the brake pedal to pivot along with holding the clutch pedal assembly in place. The basic reservoir comes with a barbed fitting on the bottom with its own two-piece bracket. In the Alloway installation they opted to make their own bracket, allowing it to be installed to the inside of the firewall, now residing within the interior.

It’s truly a simple swap, whether you are retrofitting your hot rod or installing from scratch, the American Powertrain HydraMax bolt-in underdash hydraulic clutch and pedal system is a breeze and a welcomed addition.

Here’s the kit as it comes out of the box from American Powertrain
2. Here’s the kit as it comes out of the box from American Powertrain. It is truly ready to go. The pedal assembly is bled and ready to go.
Part of the kit is the HydraMax bearing is pre-bled, pressure tested, and comes with Buna-N seals (long life)
3. Part of the kit is the HydraMax bearing is pre-bled, pressure tested, and comes with Buna-N seals (long life). It is compatible with most domestic four-, five-, and six-speed transmissions.
The arrow shows where the pivoting fitting comes off the clutch pedal master cylinder
4. The arrow shows where the pivoting fitting comes off the clutch pedal master cylinder. It freely moves to ensure that the -3 AN line can be positioned in a good location so as not to interfere with anything under/behind the dash area.
In this view you can see the clutch pedal with master cylinder is attached
5. In this view you can see the clutch pedal with master cylinder is attached. It bolts directly to the factory pedal, assembly bracket. The visible rubber hose goes from the master cylinder to the billet reservoir.
The stock pedal assembly bracket with pedals was removed and has gone through a sandblast treatment so that it is ready for paint and reuse
6. The stock pedal assembly bracket with pedals was removed and has gone through a sandblast treatment so that it is ready for paint and reuse.
Here you can see the new American Powertrain clutch pedal (fresh black paint) is bolted in place where the stock pedal had been removed
7. Here you can see the new American Powertrain clutch pedal (fresh black paint) is bolted in place where the stock pedal had been removed.
Part of the kit is the optional billet reservoir along with the -3 AN line
8. Part of the kit is the optional billet reservoir along with the -3 AN line. The line runs from the master cylinder on the pedal assembly down to the hydraulic clutch.
Here is the Alloway-fabricated reservoir bracket now mounted to the inside of the firewall
9. Here is the Alloway-fabricated reservoir bracket now mounted to the inside of the firewall.
The kit-provided reservoir mounted to its freshly minted bracket that will be welded to the firewall
10. The kit-provided reservoir mounted to its freshly minted bracket that will be welded to the firewall.
The billet reservoir can be mounted almost anywhere but you do want it to be at the same height, or higher, than the master cylinder mounted on the clutch pedal
11. The billet reservoir can be mounted almost anywhere but you do want it to be at the same height, or higher, than the master cylinder mounted on the clutch pedal. The reservoir gravity feeds so it needs this height.
An overview of the American Powertrain billet reservoir (arrow, right), factory pedal assembly bracket (arrow, center), and the clutch pedal with master cylinder (arrow, left) all bolted into position

12. An overview of the American Powertrain billet reservoir (arrow, right), factory pedal assembly bracket (arrow, center), and the clutch pedal with master cylinder (arrow, left) all bolted into position.

Here we can see the factory brake/clutch pedal assembly with the rubber hose that runs from the reservoir to the 3/4-inch bore master cylinder attached directly to the clutch pedal
13. Here we can see the factory brake/clutch pedal assembly with the rubber hose that runs from the reservoir to the 3/4-inch bore master cylinder attached directly to the clutch pedal.
The firewall shows the reliefs for the master cylinder and the steering column
14. The firewall shows the reliefs for the master cylinder and the steering column. You will have one -3 AN line that will hook up to the underdash hydraulic cylinder and then run to the hydraulic clutch at the rear of the engine.
Troutman is working on the ’55 getting the firewall ready to accept the brake master cylinder
15. Troutman is working on the ’55 getting the firewall ready to accept the brake master cylinder. Note the big-block Chevy, it’s an Alloway standard.
American Powertrain
(931) 646-4836
americanpowertrain.com
Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
(865) 977-9140
allowaysrodshop.com
Modern Rodding

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 22 • 2022

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