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Author
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Topic: Clutch question?
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RPM289
Gearhead Posts: 112
From: Phenix City, AL
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-29-2002 09:46 PM
   
Has anyone ran the Centerforce dual friction clutch in their car? I am also looking at the RAM 300 race clutches. I know the RAM clutch has a high pedal pressure & centerforce says they have light pedal pressure so whose is best? I plan on having around 500+hp in the future so I want a clutch I don't have to replace later.Thanks ------------------
Mike 66' Mustang,289,4 speed overdrive.
95' Lightning #2218
65' Mustang,Tubbed, Rear cage ladder bars / coil over's, 5.13:1 N-case 9in.31 spline, 302, C4.
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-29-2002 10:48 PM
Mike,We ran the centerforce dual friction behind the 351w on the '66 for a couple years. It worked great. Can't tell you about the ram300 though. I do know that the centerforce will hold up to the h.p. you're looking for. Personally if I had it to do over, which we did, just put a JPT c-4 behind it with a matched converter.  SteveW
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bluestreek
Gearhead Posts: 1289
From: Athens,GA
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 12-29-2002 10:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by steve'66:
Mike,Personally if I had it to do over, which we did, just put a JPT c-4 behind it with a matched converter. SteveW
Traitor!!
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-29-2002 10:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bluestreek:
Traitor!!
LOL, I may use a glide in the next project.  SteveW
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3467
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 12-30-2002 09:15 AM
I too run a Centerforce, and love it The pedal effort is reasonable, the holding power is killer  . I buzz mine to 7000 rpm regularly  . I too concidered the RAM disc/plate. For a race car, that's the ticket. Diaphragm style pressure plates (Centerforce) can disassemble themselves launching with slicks and turning to obscene rpm's, whereas long style (RAM) are far better suited for those abuses ------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
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RPM289
Gearhead Posts: 112
From: Phenix City, AL
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-30-2002 12:03 PM
LOL! No way! just got rid of the C4 gotta pull gears!! I like the sound of the lighter pedal pressure on the Centerforce clutch.But I don't want to experience a clutch explosion.------------------
Mike 66' Mustang,289,4 speed overdrive.
95' Lightning #2218
65' Mustang,Tubbed, Rear cage ladder bars / coil over's, 5.13:1 N-case 9in.31 spline, 302, soon to be a 4 speed. [This message has been edited by RPM289 (edited 12-30-2002).]
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-30-2002 12:14 PM
Mike,Don't forget the scattershield.  SteveW
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 384
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-30-2002 12:23 PM
I have three friends with Centerforce Dual Friction clutches, and they all love them. Two are SBC 350's that see 7K, the other is a 68 Mustang coupe with a 351 Clevor that's shifted at 6500. all three have used DOT slicks, and launch hard. I've driven two and have to say that the pedal feel is positive, and the grip is killer. I plan on using in in my Crew Cab Dually, and in the 71 Mach when I get the Cleveland installed. Oh, as far as longevity, one of the SBC's I mentioned just changed his clutch last spring after 6 years of use / abuse, and it still had plenty of meat left on it.
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Mark T 7724
Journeyman Posts: 83
From: Palmdale, CA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-30-2002 03:33 PM
RPM289: Will this be for "Strip" use only or do you plan to drive this on the street? If it's for the track only I have a McLeod Long-Style, Bronze Disk, Adjustable Pressure Plate, Race Clutch. My car has left at 8000 RPM with this setup E-Mail me for details [email protected]
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ZEATER
Journeyman Posts: 89
From: Mount Pleasant,IA,USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-30-2002 06:05 PM
I ran a McLeod 3 finger style in my 428 69 mustang until it smoked on a launch. I switched to the centerforce dual friction last year. I launched at 5000 rpm with slicks. 1.65 60' and no slipping. I pulled the engine a month ago and the lack of wear on the clutch was impressive. I am installing Centerforce again.They do ask that you give the clutch a 500 mile stop and go break in which seems odd to as who drives some of these cars 500 miles before they race them.
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Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1210
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-31-2002 12:12 AM
I have been using the McLeod "soft lock" in my 428 Fairmont for 4 years now, for a race only car it`s tough to beat.------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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67Coupster
Gearhead Posts: 179
From: Fortson, GA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 12-31-2002 08:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Rory McNeil:
I have been using the McLeod "soft lock" in my 428 Fairmont for 4 years now, for a race only car it`s tough to beat.
What disk do you use with that clutch Rory? I've been thinking about upgrading my clutch setup with the "soft lock". I'm currently using a Ram long style 2800lb pressure plate with a organic disc along with a steel flywheel. Has worked really good but I'm not the biggest guy around and the pedal pressure been kicking my butt at the starting line . I'm also getting just a bit of tire spin on launch and every shift. Do you use a aluminum flywheel? I figure I could gain a little more with a lighter flywheel also. My 393W has around 500hp and about the same amount of torque. Best 60' has been 1.50 and best 1/8 mile et has been 6.95. Got a friend of mine with a full race 14:1 383 chebby that runs 6.65 and I would like to get a little be closer to him with my pump gas 10.5:1 393. Nothing like dumping the clutch at 5500 on slicks
------------------
James
67 Coupe
393W, 4 Speed,
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Mark T 7724
Journeyman Posts: 83
From: Palmdale, CA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-31-2002 03:10 PM
I currently am running a Soft-Lock in my car with a aluminum flywheel only because I plan to leave "Real High" 8500~9000 and it's an aluminum pressure ring . At this RPM centrifugal weighting will not be of any help because it comes in at 5000 so I'm not sure what else besides being lighter the Soft-Lock does over my bronze clutch. On the 68 C/S 428 car the Soft-Lock worked well because we were only leaving at 3800, We also cut down the diameter of the disk to keep it from getting too aggressive.
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Mike Harris
Gearhead Posts: 122
From: Oakfield, Ga USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 12-31-2002 04:58 PM
Can't comment on the RAM, but nothing except kudos for the Centerforce. Have used it in a 347 stroker on 17psi boost, a mild 302 with a 250 shot of juice, and a 351 with a 150 shot of juice and has held fine. No explosions, no fade, and were street driven vehicles as well.------------------
Mike Harris
MKZ Racing
home.isoa.net/~mharrisj
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CJR
Journeyman Posts: 39
From: Mt. Olive NC
Registered: May 2002
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posted 12-31-2002 09:33 PM
Trying to spend my clutch money already bro?
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RPM289
Gearhead Posts: 112
From: Phenix City, AL
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-31-2002 11:33 PM
Sure am! If I don't hurry you may change your mind!------------------
Mike 66' Mustang,289,4 speed overdrive.
95' Lightning #2218
65' Mustang,Tubbed, Rear cage ladder bars / coil over's, 5.13:1 N-case 9in.31 spline, 302, soon to be a 4 speed.
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RPM289
Gearhead Posts: 112
From: Phenix City, AL
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-31-2002 11:43 PM
Nothing like dumping the clutch at 5500 on slicks
[/B][/QUOTE]
Can't wait until I can dump the clutch at 5500!!
------------------
Mike 66' Mustang,289,4 speed overdrive.
95' Lightning #2218
65' Mustang,Tubbed, Rear cage ladder bars / coil over's, 5.13:1 N-case 9in.31 spline, 302, soon to be a 4 speed.
IP: Logged |
Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1210
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-01-2003 11:42 AM
67 Coupester, Yes, my McLeod "Soft Lok" uses an aluminum flywheel, as well as the pressure ring in the pressure plate. The disc is a solid hub, sintered iron unit. The pedal pressure is nice & light, & it requires much less pedal travel than conventional clutchs. I over heated my first clutch several times, while getting used to it, ie: not enough base pressure, or the freeplay slowly went away & I never noticed till it started slipping. Normally, if it did slip, I would lift, but a few times it was in eliminations, so I stayed in it.When I took it apart, the steel heat shields were badly curled upwards & blue. Had to believe it was still working in that condition! This was after 3 seasons, I sent the flywheel & pressure plate back to McLeod, & they installed new heatshields, freshened up the pressure plate, & sent me a new disc. Now that I`m a little more "in tune" with the clutch, I had zero "suprises" this past season. I haven`t done much testing with counterweight, as I launch at 6200-6400 RPM normally, & shift at 6000-6200, so I can`t see adding centrifugal weight acting any differently than just putting in a bit more static pressure. ------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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