Help!!! Mechanical clutch for 6.2L?

[btmurph]

First off, I'm converting my truck to diesel...

OK, I've got my 6.5L (6.2 block bored up) and when I pulled the old 350 I noticed that the z-bar for the clutch mounts up to the block as well as the frame (truck came from the factory w/ the 3 on the tree manual). The 6.2/6.5 doesn't have the mounting holes or even bosses for the holes to mount the z-bar. In fact, where the z-bar would mount (if I welded on the block) is where the oil cooler ports are. Any ideas? I know that the 85 and up (and possibly earlier) trucks have the hydraulic clutch and I could go that direction but I'd REALLY like to keep the mechanical setup. I was thinking of doing a horizontal a-frame setup to support the z-bar on the engine side and bolting to the frame on both sides of the factory frame mount using 1/8" or 1/4" steel but...?

Thanks ahead for any ideas!

Brian

[btmurph]

Here's some pics:

The old setup





and the new motor:


again, any ideas?

[dieseldummy]

That casting boss between the oil cooler lines should be threaded. It is on early models with mechanical linkage. I'd say there is a good possibility you could drill and tap it with no harm, but can't say for sure.

[DmaxMaverick]

The boss is on the engine, but not tapped. I wouldn't tap it, if it were me. I would fab a bracket that either bolts to the frame, or to other existing fasteners on the engine, like the bell housing bolts. It would be simple to use stud-cap bolts, and mount your bracket to them. The stud-cap bolts are available OEM. Your 350 probably has a couple of them on it. If your current bellcrank (z-bar, as you call it) doesn't cooperate with a new configuration, you could fab that, too. It isn't rocket science, and has a simple function. It would probably be better than OEM in the end, anyway.

[btmurph]

and I figured that boss was some sort of other oil passage!

Dmax: we call it a z-bar on the 67-72 chevy truck message board... I like the idea of mounting a bracket to the bellhousing... hmmmm... completely to the frame might be better, though... your thought?

Thanks to both! You give me hope...