I'm planning on eventually putting out 100 hp over stock, and around 300+ lbs of torque (up from 240)
Should I stick with a stock replacement or go with a heavy duty? I do plan on doing burnouts and racing along with daily driving

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--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series
Holley 600 cfm & vacuum advance

 

I am seeing nothing but good things about Star Performance?.... and the cost is very reasonable compared to some of the others out there like Ram, hayes, and McLeod. What type of 5-speed is in that car? Stock?...

This is just my opinion if you are running a stock 5-speed and plan on racing with it. You might want to consider on using a standard clutch (life time replacement from any automotive parts store) or the next step up, nothing really heavy duty, that way the weak link in your drivetrain will be the clutch and not your tranny or rear end.

If its an aftermarket 5-speed, forget what I just said.

 

So use a weak clutch to protect the more expensive vital parts? Would the stock clutch last?

 

Really depends on how you drive and how you race with the tranny. Power shifting will be a big no no if the tranny is stock. Before when I had a T-5 with a stock clutch, all I could get was about 3 runs with at least 30 minutes between each run to let the clutch cool down a bit, after that, I could barely take off to go home, had to wait another hour to let the damm thing get cold. I didn't even power shift the thing in fear that something would go wrong. After that night at the track I drove the car like any other normal person and never raced it again, tranny lasted and had no other problems. If i were you I would either consider an automatic for racing more than the average guy, what ever that would be, or plan on an aftermarket 5 or 6 speed that can handle the torque and step up to a heavy duty clutch.

In my opion though with the stock tranny, use the stock clutch, easier to replace than a tranny itself...

HTH

 

Wow, i'm gettin a really pessimistic vibe here. Guess i shoulda said, which brand of heavy duty clutch to get?

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--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series
Holley 600 cfm & vacuum advance

 

Center Force makes a hell of a clutch!!!!!!!!
You won't ever make a CENTER FORCE slip!!!!!!

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89 formula 305 H.O. accel plugs and wires, 3" exhaust w/ flowmaster, MSD coil, Stage 3 A.D.S super chip, open air k@n filter, Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex Master Bushing Set, TCI Custom built 700R4 and more mods SOON to come!!

 

Hayes used to be the choice of most people, but now CenterForce dual frictions are. I still swear by the Hayes (price per performance), but if you can afford it McLeods are good too.

Even though I have my Hayes I fear using it behind my 350, chances are unless you do suspension modificiations you won't have enough traction to worry about the clutch slipping.

Ram clutches work perfect for holding, except, they do their job way to well. Most people that run them can't slip the clutch easily for street driving.

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1984 WS6 Hardtop Trans Am
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 T-top Trans Am
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101

 

Yea I like rocking at traffic lights, and such. Are Zoom clutches any good? My boss recommended them to me and they seem cheaper for a Heavy Duty clutch than most other brands.

 

Zoom clutches (yes, the 'heavy duty' version!) is sold as OEM replacement at places such as Advance Auto. They also come with plastic throw out bearings (and please do throw it out) that are junk. I have no direct expierence with them, although, for the price it'd work.

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1984 WS6 Hardtop Trans Am
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 T-top Trans Am
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101