Clutch Recommendation, 427 Crate Motor with TKO 600?

[karlos]

Time to start thinking about a clutch. I'm looking to pick up a complete kit (flywheel, disk, pressure plate) but am having trouble finding one that meets all of the following requirements:

1. 500 HP / 500 TQ
2. Neutral balanced engine
3. 1-1/8", 26 spline input shaft
4. 157 tooth flywheel, 10.5" diaphragm disk
5. Good street manners - chatter during engagement is a no-go

A Centerforce dual friction kit (DF161830) looks good, but I don't think they make one for a 351-based neutral balanced engine. A Spec 2+ kit looks good, too, although I've read they can have some chatter. Looked at both the Forte and the Levy websites, but not really enough info there to make a selection. I'm sure one of you guys has recently worked through this, right?

Thanks.

-Karl

[walt mckenna]

I have a Centerforce Dual Friction between my 4.6 DOHC and TKO600. The clutch caused driveline judder from day one. Centerforce replaced it at no charge with noticeable improvement, but judder (chatter) is still present. I installed the horizontal quad shocks, from my donor, with some improvement, but a complete clutch replacement is planned. In addition, the clutch is harder to push then an OEM, but not a deal breaker. I will replace with a good quality OEM style clutch with organic facings both sides.

Some of the dual discs are advertised to give smooth operation and plenty of clamping force and friction surface area to meet your Horsepower and Torque requirements, but are expensive. I have done more research on clutches and read more reviews then I care to admit and my advise is don't go any more aggressive then absolutely necessary.

[Gordon Levy]

I have a couple really good kits. I have different set ups for different apps. Please feel free to give me a call and we can talk about what it best for your setup and use.

[Bob Cowan]

Time to start thinking about a clutch. I'm looking to pick up a complete kit (flywheel, disk, pressure plate) but am having trouble finding one that meets all of the following requirements:

1. 500 HP / 500 TQ
2. Neutral balanced engine
3. 1-1/8", 26 spline input shaft
4. 157 tooth flywheel, 10.5" diaphragm disk
5. Good street manners - chatter during engagement is a no-go

A Centerforce dual friction kit (DF161830) looks good, but I don't think they make one for a 351-based neutral balanced engine. A Spec 2+ kit looks good, too, although I've read they can have some chatter. Looked at both the Forte and the Levy websites, but not really enough info there to make a selection. I'm sure one of you guys has recently worked through this, right?

Thanks.

-Karl

Yes, they do. The clutch is the same for any balance, it's the flywheel that matters. Get a good Fidenza flywheel, and remove the weights.

I'v used a variety of clutches. The Centerforce dual friction was the best, IMO. Held the power well, easy to use, and smooth operation. Eventually, I broke the hat.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/bobcowan/smallbreak1.jpg (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/bobcowan/media/smallbreak1.jpg.html)

On advice of others, I installed a Ram HD set. After breaking a hat (who does that?), I wanted something stronger. I was told it was a heavy duty part, and stronger than the CF. Much to my surprise, I found the Ram hat to be the exact same Valero hat, right down to the exact same tooling marks! The Ram does shudder a bit when cold, and takes a more practiced foot for smooth operation when warm.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/bobcowan/clutchhat3.jpg (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/bobcowan/media/clutchhat3.jpg.html)

When I stop racing this car, I'll go back to a Centerforce.

[luvaz]

I have a similar engine and installed a Spec 2 after the King Cobra gave me 'the slip'.

No chatter and it grips like a cat on carpet!

HTH,
Will

[karlos]

Yes, they do. The clutch is the same for any balance, it's the flywheel that matters.


Right; I don't believe CF offers a complete kit with a 0-balance flywheel. Thinking about getting the disk and PP and adding a Ford Racing billet steel flywheel.




On advice of others, I installed a Ram HD set. After breaking a hat (who does that?), I wanted something stronger.


I don't know who does that - hopefully not me! Thanks much for your feedback.

[Bob Cowan]

Right; I don't believe CF offers a complete kit with a 0-balance flywheel. Thinking about getting the disk and PP and adding a Ford Racing billet steel flywheel.


That will work just fine. You don't need to buy them as a set, anyway.

Why not aluminum? Saves 8 pounds. At 6,500 rpm's, 8# is a lot.

[karlos]

Had a bad experience with an aluminum flywheel I put in our family mule/beater car a couple months back. Need to rev the snot out of the engine to get the clutch to engage without lots of chatter. I realize that a four cylinder Accord has very little in common with this FFR build that will likely produce 4 times the Honda's torque, but I believe this is somewhat symptomatic of what can happen with a lightweight flywheel. A lighter flywheel needs more RPM to match the rotational inertia of a heavier flywheel. Not a huge problem...just need a little more RPM at take off, but I prefer to keep the RPM down as much as possible during normal starts. Just a driving style or preference that's better suited to a heavier flywheel. You're very correct, however, that the lighter flywheel has appreciable advantages once the car is off the line and coming up to speed. It's a tough call but I think I'm better off picking driveability over performance in this particular case, as I think I have performance to burn.

[CHOTIS BILL]

I bought a Ram dual disk clutch and aluminum flywheel as a set with all the requirement you are looking for and at a decent price.

Bill Lomenick