Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ~400HP - CON-OFE or CON-FE??

[AndyMan]

I'm a new 12v guy, so bear with me please.

I waved goodbye to my 2003 today, and will be taking posession of a 1996 soon. First, lemme amble off the BOMB's to the 96 (CC LB 4x4 NV-4500):

370 injectors, 100 plate, 3kGSK, 215pump, BHAF, Stacks.

Now... the truck HAS a Mitchell DD clutch with the stock 1-1/4 shaft (broken). Once the truck is in my posession, I'm pulling the Mitchell, and want to put in a 13. 125 SB clutch and new 1-1/4 input shaft. I hope to sell the Mitchell to fund the SBC. What I want to know is should I go with the OFE or would it be okay to go ahead with the FE? I Plan on doing a turbo before too long. I won't be sled pulling, although I probably will do some drag racing.

Also, not sure about DV's. I don't know what's in it already, nor do I know what it "SHOULD" have. Same goes for plungers.

My main concern at the moment is clutch, but any insight/comments on the other stuff is welcome.

Thanks
Andy

 

[BPINE]

An OFE will work fine, much better clutch for a daily driver.

 

[Will24]

Go with the OFE... the day my FE took a dump was the best day my truck ever had... I sincerely hated that con-fe, but every OFE I've driven felt awesome

 

[JGheen]

Haven't had the chance to try an FE out yet but I am currently running and OFE and it is very smooth and holds very well. I will probably be looking into an FE disc soon as I am reaching the power limits of my OFE. I think you'll be happy with just an OFE. Call Peter @ SBC and tell him your situation and application needs and he'll set you up.

 

[BPINE]

Haven't had the chance to try an FE out yet but I am currently running and OFE and it is very smooth and holds very well. I will probably be looking into an FE disc soon as I am reaching the power limits of my OFE. I think you'll be happy with just an FE. Call Peter @ SBC and tell him your situation and application needs and he'll set you up.

JGheen your OFE still has a long way to grow look at my list of goodies I have no problems.

 

[HeavyHauler]

With that power level, I'd go with the OFE. I told Peter that I may end up at a touch over 500hp and he said to definitely go with the 13" OFE.



I've never driven an FE, but I understand that the OFE is a much friendlier clutch that the FE. And it's never a good idea to over-buy on a clutch, you'll end up doing more damage than good. The Con FE is a >550hp clutch. So unless you're planning on getting there really soon, I wouldn't bother.

 

[J.Keith]

I plan on getting to 500 hp with my 2000 within a few months. Right now I probably only have 325-350 hp but I got the FE anyway since I HAD to do a clutch right now.

I have found the FE very driveable with smooth engagement and it holds like

Of course I drive like an old grandma so maybe thats it. I'm just not hard enough on it :-laf

 

[CurtisvilleCummins]

get a sbc dd and dont worry about it one of the best things i every did to the truck

 

[AndyMan]

Prolly gonna go with the OFE on ya'lls recommendations.

I DID call Peter today. I really got the impression I was bothering him. I felt like I got a rushed answer that wasn't based on very much information. Conversation lasted less than two minutes. I've heard enough good about SBC that I'm down with the SBC program and will buy the OFE, but doubt I will ever call him back for anything.

I didn't get rushed by EEP, so that makes me want to just keep the Mitchell DD... but I really don't want it nor do I need it.

 

[HeavyHauler]

That stinks - you normally hear good reports on Peter's service. Anytime that I've called I've always ended up talking to Woody (brother) and he's been reasonably helpful too.



You'll like the OFE - I like mine more and more all the time. It seems to have gotten more friendly since I installed it too. I guess you should expect a break-in period on just about anything.

 

[blkdragon]

If the truck has those mods now and you plan on getting a bigger turbo why don't you just keep the Mitchel clutch and just get the bigger input shaft. If you do end up selling the clutch let me know I would probably be interested in it.

 

[FordCummins]

I've always dealt with Woody, and he has been very helpful and knowledgable about these clutches.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Andy. You got my thoughts on Peter on the phone. Trust me CALL BACK or have him call you when he's not busy. He is off on Wednesdays though!



I would go with the 13" OFE... . I had a 13" FE in the "White Wonder" and I would recommend Peter's lowest DD before I would recommend the 13" FE. Its just too grabby and shuddery. My DD engages better than my FE did.



As for DV's don't worry about those... . those are a last resort. You go adding DV's and you will never keep EGT's down.

 

[JGheen]

JGheen your OFE still has a long way to grow look at my list of goodies I have no problems.

Doh! Sorry I had to change what I wrote, I meant to type OFE in that sentence for what he would be happy with.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

Prolly gonna go with the OFE on ya'lls recommendations.



I DID call Peter today. I really got the impression I was bothering him. I felt like I got a rushed answer that wasn't based on very much information. Conversation lasted less than two minutes. I've heard enough good about SBC that I'm down with the SBC program and will buy the OFE, but doubt I will ever call him back for anything.



I didn't get rushed by EEP, so that makes me want to just keep the Mitchell DD... but I really don't want it nor do I need it.

UGG, I guess all I can say is I'm sorry if you felt rushed. This is no excuse but I have to take approx. 100 calls a day and Mondays can be especially tough because of the weekend. On the other hand, I try to gauge each call and it appeared you knew what your horse power levels were going to be so I didn't need to ask you about that and you also knew approx. what clutch you wanted, either the OFE or the FE. With that, all I needed to ask is what you were doing with your truck and if you intended on drag racing or sled pulling, then I gave a choice of which clutch would better suit you. I also talked to you about the Mitchell clutch and offered to rebuild it for you at a nominal cost so you could recoup some money for the purchase of our clutch. I thought I'd covered all the bases. If the tone of my voice is giving off bad vibes, or too direct, i. e. monotone, I will change that as of today. Thank you for pointing it out here as I don't think anybody deserves to feel this way when dealing with me or purchasing our product. I had thought I was good about this but maybe it is possible that I'm getting into a bit of a rut and for that I am truly sorry. I will do my best to not let this ever happen again.



Peter

 

[AndyMan]

No harm no foul. I've never heard ANYTHING negative about you (not legitimately anyway), or SBC products. After the phone call, I still had questions that I didn't ask. No big deal, as the manual trans guys in my group told me what I needed to know.

I do however appreciate the fact that you took time to post. Although drawing you out in the open certainly was not my intent. I was just disappointed with the call. Again though... no harm no foul.

OFE for me. Soon as I can shed this EEP DD that I don't need.

 

[RT66DOC]

Geez, Peter,

I may have to go get a box of Kleenex - sniffle, sniffle. :-laf



Seriously, your attitude about running a company and customer service is a model few others can equal. Proven time and time again. Thanks

 

[HeavyHauler]

That did seem pretty heartfelt - nearly had me tuned up too. :{ :-laf I'm glad Peter took the time to post on here. I knew he seemed like a guy that cared about his customers when I met him at IRP.

 

[Will24]

I agree with Got Smoke, my FE was very grabby too, after 7k miles I still couldn't drive the truck smooth, my DD is WAYYYY nicer to drive, I love this thing so far!





-Will

 

[JGheen]

I agree with Got Smoke, my FE was very grabby too, after 7k miles I still couldn't drive the truck smooth, my DD is WAYYYY nicer to drive, I love this thing so far!





-Will

What makes the DD so much easier to drive? I would think the DD would be harder to drive cuz of pedal pressure and an extra disc, but if the DD is basically 2 OFE discs then I could understand the smoother engagment over the single FE.



Joe