I ordered a clutch kit for my 55 crown Victoria. It said it was for a 55 ford car. When it arrived it was an eleven inch clutch and pressure plate with a fine spline clutch disc. My car has a 10” course spline disc. Was this clutch for a thunder bird? Had to send it back or figure out a different flywheel.  After putting everything together my clutch grinds when on the floor and the transmission won’t go into gear   I’m thinking bad pressure plate

Thanks everyone for the help. After installing the new disc I used the old pressure plate that was working fine before,.it was grinding when I pushed the clutch near the floor. We pulled the transmission back enough to take the throw out bearing out. I put the new bearing on another “retainer” and the end stuck out a couple of inches so I cut the excess off. Put everything back in that solved the grinding problem but it still didn’t work right  (grinding sound when on the floor and transmission grinds when you try to put it in gear)my brother went under the car and when I pushed on the pedal he thinks one of the arms on the pressure plate is not lined up with the other 2 so it is twisting when appied. I ordered a clutch kit from Rockauto that was listed for a 1955 ford car with 292 and when it arrived it was an 11” and not the 10” like I have. I’m going to pull the transmission back out and see if I can adjust the arms where the bearing touches each one. I remember seeing they have adjustments on each arm. Sorry for my long winded explanation but I’m sure you get the gist of my problem

I am not an expert on numbers, but I think the only 55 Ford cars with a 292 were the TBirds. I think the passenger cars such as Fairlanes and Crown Victorias , even the ones equipped with 4 barrel carbs were 272 cars, and probably had the smaller clutch and pressure plate. 

"I am not an expert on numbers, but I think the only 55 Ford cars with a 292 were the TBirds. I think the passenger cars such as Fairlanes and Crown Victorias , even the ones equipped with 4 barrel carbs were 272 cars, and probably had the smaller clutch and pressure plate."

Your post heading read 11". Then within the post it became a 10". Then again, you described a later 292. Just trying to verify what you have and how it was built and/or modified to try and help.

I was just trying to narrow as to what you actually have. Then again, no telling of what the car has been through with service repairs, poor service repairs or any modification(s).

1955 POLICE AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES - https://1955-ford.com/1955-ford-police-and-emergency.html#police-engines


         

____________________________

I should have explained what I have. I never had the original engine.I bought a 292 out of truck. There wasn’t any fly wheel or bell housing with it so I used my spare parts to put it in my 55 crown Victoria. It ran and shifted great. But when I decided to restore the car I pulled the engine and transmission out to put gaskets new rear main seal etc… put in a new clutch disc and found it grinded and wouldn’t go into gear .I noticed on rock auto there was a clutch kit for a 1955 ford  clutch,pressure plate,throw out bearing and input shaft bushing. So I ordered it and when I got the kit it was 11” not the 10” I assumed it was going to be. I just was wondering why it was advertised it for a 55 ford  . Could it be it was for a thunderbird?  I have a friend coming over today with his transmission jack and I’m hoping when we remove the transmission it’s the pressure plate that is the problem. The new pressure plate 3 arms aren’t adjustable but my old plate arms can be adjusted. Hope it can be adjusted I’m not happy laying on the concrete floor again

Kind a a typical problem. There were many combination from Ford over the years, and variations for wagons, trucks, birds, and cars. For a supplier to get those mixed up isn’t unheard of, although the bird restoration guys have been more consistent for me. I’m sure when it’s apart you’ll find some difference and figure it out.

I get the concrete part. It’s a lot damn harder, and lower, than it used to be. Especially getting back up. Good luck.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Well I had my older brother and a friend help me pull the transmission out today and guess what? The new disc I put in is for a pickup! It’s my own fault for not comparing the two before installing.  It was a 10” ,had course spline and fit perfect till you pushed to the floor and the throw out bearing hits the edge of the spring. It was exactly the same only different lol. I learned a painful lesson don’t assume anything. Thanks everybody for the help