Clutches

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...
5 Year Member
Jul 30, 2011
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Illinois
So....I'm kicking around the idea of a Centerforce dual disc/TKO 600 combo for the 5.0 build. Going to buy a Nitrous kit this winter and some slicks for track outings next year. I expect to be pushing around 5-600 ft lbs tq and 5k launches. Any thoughts/opinions on the clutch? Still plan on street driving it a lot also and figured the DD would be better than a single.
 
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So....I'm kicking around the idea of a Centerforce dual disc/TKO 600 combo for the 5.0 build. Going to buy a Nitrous kit this winter and some slicks for track outings next year. I expect to be pushing around 5-600 ft lbs tq and 5k launches. Any thoughts/opinions on the clutch? Still plan on street driving it a lot also and figured the DD would be better than a single.

I've read some pretty bad reviews on the centerforce dual disc chattering. I bought Mcleod. One day I'll have the car all put together and will be able to give input on it, but I've seen no bad reviews on the Mcleod. . I'm afraid of cenerforce after what I read.
 
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I have only pushed that high before with the Spec Stage 3 and 3+ clutches. I have never had any issues with them. I run a triple hook UPR quadrant, maximum motorsports and previously an OEM clutch cable. It's true that they chatter a little more when you slip it gently on the street. They bit pretty hard when you're aggressive. I've heard that can be hard on transmissions. All I can say is that I haven't blown up a tranny or had any issue with driving them on the street, and they've held as much as 760rwhp.

I've had a centerforce disk in a measly, by comparison, 420 rwhp with a King Cobra pressure plate and it held up for a few months before I swapped the 3550 for a TKO and put the Spec in. I did not have clutch chatter issues with that setup.

Good luck, and please report back with your experiences, whatever they are.
 
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I would recommend the McLeod Street Extreme, which we don't have on our website yet but we can sell it. It has their proprietary semi metallic lining on both sides of the disk. It has a smooth engagement once it's broken in, but it can handle 700hp! It's a nice clutch.
 
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Well looks like I'm going to have to do some homework on these McCloud discs. Lol. I plan on talking with Liberty Gear this week and see what they say/recommend also. Thanks for the info!
 
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A big NO to a spec stage 3... Dont put anything over a spec stage 2 clutch on the car if you are going to drag race it, powershift, or launch it like you mean it. Those clutches are way to aggressive and will kill a TKO quick.

I ran a ram powergrip clutch with great success into the high nine second range both with my NA 427" and nitrous equipped 345" engines
 
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Talk to CF. everything they told me about my 11" DF setup was spot on when I started driving it, and it's super easy to operate too,
 
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I know that, the point being CF folks are easy to talk with and helpful, folks have issues with, CF, SPEC et al. Its allot of personal opinion and really the use, Id think any of them would do them job.. he's looking for input and so mine was talk to the CF guys they- put my mind at ease and it appears he's interested in CF....... no worries here :)
 
@Boosted92LX it is not a dual disk. I tested it last night with mt 275/40/17's at a light with a 2k hammer drop and it didn't even whimper!

Yeah, I've said it before, I've run Centerforce singles .. on 250-350 hp and never had trouble. The problem is, those clutches are not designed to do what the twin disc clutches can do. IF that's all the horsepower you have, it's a great clutch. That being said, they won't handle 400-500 hp very long, and the twins that ARE designed to do so get terrible reviews. Are you willing to spend over 1200 dollars on a clutch 4 out of 5 people say is terrible? Just because the single discs are OK doesn't mean the twins are..
 
Im not sure why anyone drag racing the car would need a dual disc that far exceeds the torque capacity of the transmission.

There are guys going mid to high nines on spec stage one clutches.
 
I'm a little confused, too. If you really want a twin-disk, most of the things I've read about Mcleod have been excellent. Monster apparently also makes a good twin. If that's the ballpark, why not just go with them?

I will, one day, get another stock-blocked turbo fox and run about 500rwhp on the street. When that happens, I will not be interested in running a $1000 twin-disc clutch. I would rather push the limits with $400 clutches.

In fact, actually, I know exactly what I'm going to do. My best friend had a great experience with these guys: MUSTANG/CAMARO Performance Manual Transmissions/Clutches/Repairs/Parts/Gears FL

I'm currently working with Wally on the g-force geared T56 that they're building for me, and I can tell you that their philosophy is that choosing the right clutch saves your transmission. I didn't expect to want to use them, but after about a 30 minute discussion with him, I felt like he really really knew his :poo:. On the page I linked, it looks like they've got single disc clutches that they recommend all the way up to 680hp, none of which cost more than $420. They even have a "last stage" 700-800 hp single disc clutch, but they say that it's very hard on transmissions.
 
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Great info. I'm obviously not extremely knowledgeable on clutches and that is one of the reasons I started this post. I figured a DD would be easier on the leg/not slip/and wear longer. I've only ran about 450 ft lbs tq(max) through a manual before and was curious/concerened that a single would be pita in town/wouldn't last/etc. I've ran the King Cobra-T5 combo in a couple cars(including at present). I also saw @Boosted92LX spec clutch post and was cautious. So @90lxcoupe what would your recommendation be? I am going to purchase the Liberty TKO 600 w/upgrades,QuickTime Bell,MM cable kit,etc. The rest of the combo is 302 w/ hci + around 150-200 shot(motor should make around 330-350 rwhp w/out juice) BBK LT's,aluminum ds,8.8 31 sp moser axles,FRPP diff and 3.73 gears.
 
Heck the CF DF clutch I have w/ MM cable, quadrant etc is as easy if not easier than the Ram it replaced. approx 412hp /398 ft lb. at the flywheel and its an 11" clutch. So look around at that level with the various mfr's. I'm sure @elarm1 has similar power to you as well, and as mentioned the Ram and Spec meet your needs as well.
 
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