Motor should be around 500 horse. I have a Muncie 4speed. And will be installing a 12 bolt or 9 inch later this summer. Probably with a 3.43 ratio.

I am looking for a clutch with minimal chatter, and strong enough to put up with some pretty abusive driving habits. This car is not babied. I beat on it when I take it out. I've always had automatics so I'm not sure who's clutch is really the one I should run.

If any of you stick car guys thrash your cars and have had your clutch last a few years without major head aches I'm all ears, and will appreciate any and all info I can get.

I plan on ordering the clutch next weekend.

Thanks, Splitty

 

No such thing as 3.43 gears...

Gears always have a whole number of teeth (no 12.7 teeth or whatever), and at least one of the gears usually is a prime number. (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 23, etc.) 3.73 for example is 41 & 11 (41 ÷ 11 = 3.7272727272...) 3.42 is 41 & 12 (41 ÷ 12 = 3.41666666...) and so on.

So, you might get 3.42, or maybe 3.45 or 3.38 or 3.31; but not 3.43.

That aside, every clutch I have ever used that was installed properly, worked GREAT. That would be, in front of several Chevrolet 3-speeds, Muncie 3- & 4-speeds, T-10 4-speeds, T-5s, T-56s, and probably some other kinds of transmissions I've had but have forgot about, in cars from 50s up to 2000s. Probably 25 or 30 clutches of my own over the years, AT LEAST, plus no telling how many more for customers. Brands I can recall using include Centerforce (which the DF is actually my favorite), Ram, B-W, Hays, McLeod, ... I'm sure I'm forgetting some of those. Even the cheap parts store brands and local rebuilder products have worked fine IF INSTALLED PROPERLY.

Installation is key. Brand is almost irrelevant. Especially today, where virtually EVERY pressure plate is a Valeo or LUK, and the only thing different from one disc to another, is the lining the attach. You can order 10 different clutches from 10 different mfrs and odds are, you'll end up with 10 identical pressure plates. If you don't pay attention to the paint color, you wouldn't even know which one is which.

Pay more attention to getting the INSTALLATION right, and less to the name printed on the box.

Did I mention how important INSTALLING them right is? If not, let me take this opportunity to bring that up. Turn & balance the flywheel (or get a new one, and have it balanced); balance the pressure plate; make sure you have no leaks; put the throwout on the fork the right way; put the pilot in right; align the disc right so that the trans goes in ALL THE WAY BY HAND; put a thin smear of grease on the disc spines or the clutch gear splines (emphasis on "thin" - excess will just get thrown off and end up on the disc), a thin smear on the clutch gear bearing retainer and/or fill the groove in the throwout if it has one, make sure it's adjusted right.

 

Thank you sir. The gear will be 3.42.

My fly wheel is pretty used up. So I am buying a new one. I saw zoom sells a new one for like $88.00 so its really a no brainer.

I was more concerned with how the clutch acts. And longevity.

I have installed many clutches in stock cars and drag cars, plus stock style street cars for other people. Plus some one ton work trucks and such. So the install is not a major concern. I do appreciate your concern about it though.

So since the pressure plates are all the same it is the disc I am seeking real world advice on then. Like I said I run this thing hard, I live a few miles from Thompson drag raceway and will take it there a few times a year on test and tune night also. I just don't want some chattering work truck like engagement. And I certainly don't want something that will slip under the extreme conditions I am sure to put it through.

Thanks, Splitty.

 

No other opinions or experiences with clutches?

 

sofa pretty much covered it.

If youre going to abuse it look into a steel fw not iron or at least a scattershield it only takes once.

also learned about using parts store pilot bushings the hard way
The GM fluted ones are sized perfect didnt think to check the others prior to installation nor stop when it was a bitch to get the last of it in. Once you hit the clutch pedal and hear a loud squealing.....lol.

 

I am currently looking for a scatter shield. I need winter to go away so I can do some side work to pay for more parts. lol... I was just looking for someone that has had good or bad experiences with the 4 or 5 most common after market clutches. That's all.