Mustang and Shelby 289 High Performance HiPo Clutch Equalizer Bar

65-66 HiPo Clutch Equalizer Bar
©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

A very common part needing replacement on 1965 and 1966 Mustangs and GT350's with the 289 High Performance engines is the clutch equalizer bar.  Sometimes this part is referred to as the "z bar".  At any rate, originals are often bent, twisted, reinforced, repaired, and modified over the years.  It is even interesting to note in the Shelby American Automobile Club's Registry that there are many notes of these bars having been replaced on '65 and '66 GT350 Shelbys when they had just a few thousand miles.

Obviously, it is nearly impossible to find a good original.  Even if you do find one that looks good, there is a very good chance that it is twisted.

We now have exact reproductions of these equalizer bars in stock. 

This is a  Virginia Classic Mustang exclusive part and not like any of the others on the market. These also unpainted like the originals.

We have used them on our own cars, and they work fantastic.

Click here to order. Part number is BK191.

Mustang and Shelby HiPo Clutch Equalizer Bar

Clutch equalizer bar for 289 High Performance Mustang and Shelby.
www.VirginiaClassicMustang.com

A very common part needing replacement on 1965 and 1966 Mustangs and GT350's with the 289 High Performance engines is the clutch equalizer bar.  Sometimes this part is referred to as the "z bar".  At any rate, originals are often bent, twisted, reinforced, repaired, and modified over the years.  It is even interesting to note in the Shelby American Automobile Club's Registry that there are many notes of these bars having been replaced on '65 and '66 GT350 Shelbys when they had just a few thousand miles.

Obviously, it is nearly impossible to find a good original.  Even if you do find one that looks good, there is a very good chance that it is twisted.

We carry a reproduction from Scott Drake Mustang Parts that is absolutely super.  Here, we have a few comparison photos of one of our reproductions vs. an NOS bar.  Please note that there are a few reproductions on the market.  This one is by far the best.  One of the others fit and functions just fine, but it just doesn't have the exact smooth bends that match the original.

Of course, you will notice the grease fitting in this reproduction.  We recommend removing this and welding up the hole if you want it exactly like the original.  Other than that, we would recommend this part on even the highest end restorations.

This bar has the block on the top like the '65 bar.  This block can be removed to use on '66 Mustangs.

Our part number is BK-191.

The bends on the reproduction clutch equalizer bar are identical to the original.
www.VirginiaClassicMustang.com

The bends on the reproduction clutch equalizer bar are identical to the original.
www.VirginiaClassicMustang.com

The bends on the reproduction clutch equalizer bar are identical to the original.
www.VirginiaClassicMustang.com

1964 1/2-Early 1965 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar

New BK-1911 1964 1/2 - Early 1965 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar

It is always cool when a new part comes out.  Especially when it is as well made as this new Mustang HiPo Clutch Equalizer Bar.  The first K Code Mustangs became available in approximately early June of 1964.  The earlier cars were equipped with the 5 Bolt 289 HiPo Engine.  By August, the 5 bolt gave way to the 6 bolt block.  Alternators started being installed rather than Generators.

All of the 289 High Performance equipped Mustangs had a version of the Clutch "Z" Bar in order to work with the special HiPo Exhaust Manifolds.  There were actually two different versions of this HiPo Clutch Equalizer Bar - Early and Late.

New BK-1911 1964 1/2 - Early 1965 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar.  This part matches the original quite well!  It is a really nice part!  All images ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

We have an early 65 Mustang HiPo Convertible with a scheduled build date of August 10, 1964.  It has the earlier bar.  The main difference between the early bar and the later bar is the length of the tube.  The early bar has a longer tube that measures 6 7/8 inches, and the later bar's tube measures 6 1/4 inches.  We are not sure exactly when the later bar started being used and would be interested to hear from any owners of September and October 1964 build date HiPo Mustangs. 

New BK-1911 1964 1/2 - Early 1965 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar.  This part matches the original quite well!  It is a really nice part!  All images ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

Anyway this new Early Clutch Equalizer Bar is our Part Number BK-1911.    As mentioned, we are lucky to have an original bar to compare the reproduction to and were quite impressed with the quality of the reproduction.  It is really a super nice part.

New BK-1911 1964 1/2 - Early 1965 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar.  This part matches the original quite well!  It is a really nice part!  All images ©Virginia Classic Mustang Inc

This High quality Classic Mustang Hi-Po Clutch Equalizer Bar from Scott Drake Mustang Parts is made from fabricated steel with natural grey powder coating and features precision welds. It is made from original Ford prints. It also features a hidden grease zerk to extend bushing life. This grease fitting was not on the original bar. It can be removed.

66 Mustang Upper Clutch Equalizer Bar Retracting Spring

Later in 1966 Mustang production (after February 14, 1966), a different spring was used as a retracting spring on the upper part of the clutch equalizer bar on manual transmission equipped Mustangs. There should be a little bracket on the firewall that this spring attaches to. The other end attaches to the equalizer bar itself.

The spring is now in stock. It is our part number BK2081.

Mustang Clutch Release Rods

OK-here's another one of those quick, but important, new product posts.

On the 1965 Mustang, the lower clutch release rod (clutch equalizer bar to the clutch lever at bellhousing) was nonadjustable. This was due to the fact that the top rod that runs from the equalizer bar to the pedal was adjustable. This nonadjustable rod was made obsolete from Ford quite a while back, so lots of folks just used the '66 adjustable one.

The 1966 Mustang had an adjustable lower rod because the upper rod to the pedal was nonadjustable.

Got all of that?

Anyway, the 1965 style nonadjustable one is available again. The adjustable '66 style is still available, of course, also.

Here are the part numbers:

BK212 1965 Clutch Release Rod

BK230 1966 Clutch Release Rod

1966 Mustang Clutch Equalizer Bar

We now have the Clutch Equalizer Bar, commonly referred to as the "Z-Bar," specifically for the V-8 equipped 1966 Mustang. Previously, the Equalizer Bar was available only for a 1965 under our part number BK351. Really, the only different between the two is the fact that the 1965 has the top block for the adjustable rod that connects to the pedal. In 1966, the block was removed and a non-adjustable bar to pedal rod was used.

The new Equalizer Bar is part number BK3511.

Please keep in mind that we still have the unique Equalizer Bar specifically for the 289 High Performance Model. It is part number BK191, and the block just needs to be removed for the 1966 model.

65-66 Mustang 289 High Performance Clutch Equalizer Bar

Just a quick note about our 1965-66 Mustang Clutch Equalizer Bar for the 289 High Performance Model... There are actually three of them (that we know of) out there on the market. Unfortunately, the other two are not made correctly. One of them has the bottom pivot located at the wrong place, and the other has an extra "reinforcement piece" welded to it.

The one that we now handle is made and the USA and is a very close reproduction. Unfortunately, it is more expensive than the other two; but this is a part that must be made correctly.

It comes with the top block for use on the 1965 Mustang. This can be removed if you have a 1966 model.

Our part number is BK191.