I need a clutch - QUESTIONS

[70stangcoupe]

I need a clutch in my GT - can I just buy the SPEC Stage 1 off of eBay and have it professionally installed, without needing any other mods? I don't want to spend the extra money on a firewall adjuster or new clutch cable or anything like that.

I've already decided on the SPEC stage 1. Should I get the OEM Throwout Bearing? I've heard bad things about SPEC's chattering problem.

Just want to make sure the SPEC is an acceptable stock replacement without needing any other mods - if it isn't, I'll need to choose another brand. Thanks guys!

 

[70stangcoupe]

I've also been looking at King Cobra clutch kits, they'd be a bit cheaper. Oh, the headache...

 

[DerekStangGT]

oh boy, what a headache is right. i got the spec stg 2 and i had huge probs w/ it in the first 2 months or so. i dont know if it was the clutch or the shop that installed it. i had a heavy clutch pedal (caused by the adj cable), difficulty acessing gears (slightly fixed by replacing quadrent to pro 5.0, but it is still present), an extremely high clutch pedal(fixed by the MM clutch pedal height adjuster. the height is great now!!!!!!), pretty noticeable bucking when the clutch catches (still present. i was told to live w/ it) and last, my tranny still grinds 2nd when i shift fast. i dont know why, but it started after the clutch install and has never gone away. its a pain in the butt really. i actually get zero clutch chatter tho. it looks like you are just selling the car anyway, right? why dont you just throw any old clutch in there and be done with it?

 

[CATMACH]

With the Spec stage 2 I have had the above problems along with the chatter. The clutch does not slip though. I miss my stock clutch.

 

[JonJon]

My FRPP HD clutch has been real good so far.

 

[70stangcoupe]

Maybe I should stay away from the SPEC, then. Why did you guys both go with Stage 2? Without heavy mods, Stage 1 would have been fine.

JonJon, where's the cheapest place to get the HD clutch? I was looking at the HD and King Cobra from http://www.stangstore.com - Whats the difference between the two?

I just want a headache free clutch replacement.

 

[DerekStangGT]

Maybe I should stay away from the SPEC, then. Why did you guys both go with Stage 2? Without heavy mods, Stage 1 would have been fine.

i cant speak for the other guy, but personally, i wanted this clutch to last a long time. stg 2 is more heavy duty than stg 1 and can handle more power and abuse (since i drag race every so often). i plan on keeping the car for a while and adding more power down the road, so i wanted the strongest clutch w/o sacrificing that daily driver feeling, which i found......with exception to my above mentioned problems

 

[Mr GT 02]

*** Spec.....get Centerforce Dual Friction

 

[JonJon]

Maybe I should stay away from the SPEC, then. Why did you guys both go with Stage 2? Without heavy mods, Stage 1 would have been fine.

JonJon, where's the cheapest place to get the HD clutch? I was looking at the HD and King Cobra from http://www.stangstore.com - Whats the difference between the two?

I just want a headache free clutch replacement.

I ended up paying $170 from the guy who installed my clutch. It's $150 from gefracing.com

I've read that the King Cobra is more like stock clutch pedal feel, the HD is much stiffer. I'm not a large fellow but I don't find it very difficult. It's definately harder than stock but it's not a big deal. I think the pressure plate is different? I'm not positive what the difference is beside the pedal feel.

 

[Tylerb59]

I had a SPEC Stage 3 in my '99 and had some pretty signifigant chatter depending on conditions. My understanding it chatters (especially on the S3) because it's much more aggressive then the stock clutch.

My friend up the road has one in his SC T-Bird and it gives him a little crap every now and then but they grab like hell!

Here is a photo of the stock TOB (beat to hell ... ) vs the SPEC made of plastic. You decide:

When I replaced my clutch I decided I might as well get an aluminum flywheel instead of resurfacing my stock HEAVY ass flywheel. Make sure you get the lightweight clutch option, because the SPEC pressure plate is HEAVY.

 

[70stangcoupe]

Thanks alot guys!