clutch replacement on 95 GT?

johnny_munyak

Member
Aug 7, 2008
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Going to upgrade my clutch this spring and am starting to inquire about what my needs may be and what clutch/pressure plate combination will be sufficient.

I was considering a king cobra clutch, but see there are ALOT of options out there dependant on power output and clutch feel.

Some direction/opinions would be appreciated.
 
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I'm waiting on the new SVE Mongoose clutch currently. I've got the Valeo King Cobra in my car right now - same holding power as the FRPP KC, but the pedal is heavier (it's a crappy feeling clutch IMO). Centerforce's are awesome!
 
centerforce dual friction gets my vote

That is an overpriced factory replacement clutch. If you intend to do any mods down the road, you'll have wasted your money. The last dual friction I had made it two passes at the track before it incinerated itself. The King Cobra clutch is a great street clutch, and I recommend it. If you are looking to make over 400hp in the future, it's a good idea to look into a top end SPEC or a Mcleod.

Kurt
 
What is your combo?

Jeff, you don't like the KC? Valeo was the OEM clutch supplier (as well as the supplier for Italian exotics).

I disagree about the CF DF comment. It's holding power is a step above something like a KC IMHO.
 
I used a Valeo "Super King Cobra":rolleyes: to replace my oil soaked King Cobra.
Not as heavy of a feel, and has been holding well with my M/T Street ET's. Haven't lowered tire pressure past 18 psi though so...
My friend who races Starions said the centerforce clutches fried after a few passes with soft compound tires. Many have had good luck with them though.
My choice was affected by cost, the stock transmission, and current and immediate future power levels.
 
What is your combo?

Jeff, you don't like the KC? Valeo was the OEM clutch supplier (as well as the supplier for Italian exotics).

I disagree about the CF DF comment. It's holding power is a step above something like a KC IMHO.
The exact name of my clutch is the "Heavy Duty Ford Motorsports Clutch" or something like that. It's the cheaper Valeo model of the King Cobra is all I know. It holds great and all, but it's pretty heavy. I live in Florida, and when I hit rush hour traffic, by the time I get out of it my left leg is in Hulk-mode.
 
What is your combo?

I disagree about the CF DF comment. It's holding power is a step above something like a KC IMHO.

You need to talk to Centerforce then. After mine blew up, I called them to see if there was any guarantee on it. The guy on tech support made it very clear, the Centerforce clutch was designed to be used on a stock car for smoother clutch engagement. It was never designed to be used on a modified car. The pressure plate is a stock replacement unit that is painted orange.

Kurt
 
The exact name of my clutch is the "Heavy Duty Ford Motorsports Clutch" or something like that. It's the cheaper Valeo model of the King Cobra is all I know. It holds great and all, but it's pretty heavy. I live in Florida, and when I hit rush hour traffic, by the time I get out of it my left leg is in Hulk-mode.

The FMS HD clutch is good for more torque then the KC, but the clutch is supposedly heavier. I found the HD clutch to be about the same as stock, and cheaper then the KC, so when mine took a dump I put the HD unit in. I only made 5 passes on it, with slicks and skinnies, and it held up alright. My $.02.

Adam
 
You need to talk to Centerforce then. After mine blew up, I called them to see if there was any guarantee on it. The guy on tech support made it very clear, the Centerforce clutch was designed to be used on a stock car for smoother clutch engagement. It was never designed to be used on a modified car. The pressure plate is a stock replacement unit that is painted orange.

Kurt

It doesn't sound like you had a DF clutch.
 
The FMS HD clutch is good for more torque then the KC, but the clutch is supposedly heavier. I found the HD clutch to be about the same as stock, and cheaper then the KC, so when mine took a dump I put the HD unit in. I only made 5 passes on it, with slicks and skinnies, and it held up alright. My $.02.

Adam
I bought it because of the price, also. My pressure plate is messed up (long story, due to my own mistake - **** happens), so I recently ordered one of those Mongoose clutches. I'm eager to see how that feels/holds up. It'll be eventually used at the track with just gears, bolt-ons, and DR's (maybe spray).
 
It doesn't sound like you had a DF clutch.

Yes, it was a dual friction clutch. For awhile Steeda was offering a DF disk with a King Cobra pressure plate for performance applications. But they couldn't get Centerforce to guarantee the clutch on their blower cars, because they considered them "modified."

Kurt
 
Yes, it was a dual friction clutch. For awhile Steeda was offering a DF disk with a King Cobra pressure plate for performance applications. But they couldn't get Centerforce to guarantee the clutch on their blower cars, because they considered them "modified."

Kurt

So what were you running? A DF kit or a hybrid? On a blower car?

A DF should be able to handle most HCI cars.
 
So what were you running? A DF kit or a hybrid? On a blower car?

A DF should be able to handle most HCI cars.

I was running a straight up Dual Friction kit on my Mustang. I really liked the way it worked in my MR2 so I decided to get one for my Mustang. It made it two passes at the track before it blew up. So I called Centerforce and the guy went on and on about how you should not use their clutch on a modified car. I mean he was dead set on it, even showed me the link on their website where they said it was for factory power cars only. For what they charge, and the way they advertise it, you would think the DF was for a Top Fuel car.

Anyway, a dual friction is probably fine for a basic HCI car, but let's be honest, a stock clutch will probably be fine too. Just about anything is fine until you put drag radials or slicks on it. I mean, if the tires break loose before the clutch does, the load on the clutch doesn't change that much anyway.

Kurt
 
What is your combo?

Setup is as follows:

Thumper ported/polished./prepped GT 40 heads with larger stainless undercut valves.
FMS E303 cam @ 4* advancement
GT 40/explorer TMOSS ported upper and lower intake
FMS 65mm TB
24lb injectors
Custom chip by dirtydirtyracing
3.55 Richmond gears
underdrives
Pypes shorty stainless headers, stainless X midpipe and Flowmaster 40 catback.

Also looking to upgrade the fuel pump from the factory 110lph as well.
 
I like that kit because of all that it comes with. Almost picked up the RAM HDX master replacement kit for myself, but couldn't swing the cash for it, which is why I went with the Mongoose/recut flywheel combo instead. I'll put up a review of that SVE Mongoose later today when I pick up my car. 500 break in miles, so I won't be able to say how it takes the strip or anything, but I can tell you how smooth/unsmooth, and how heavy the clutch is. :nice: