While replacing yet another "teen destroyed" 5 speed in my 65 Valiant I noticed the the support for the clutch linkage z-bar (fender side) flexed like hell and emitted a cracking sound...it looks like the sheet metal in this area is breaking down. I seem to remember someone mentioning a fix for this. It looks like an elaborate backing plate might work. Anyone have any experience with this?...or is this just another side effect of sharing a slanter with a 16 yearold punkass dude?

It looks like an elaborate backing plate might work.

A friend of mine had this problem with his 75 Valiant. He welded in a 12 gauge (1/8") backing plate to make sure it would never flex again...

-D.Idiot

res0aus2@verizon.net