5-speed clutch options, testimonials?

["Mad Max"]

Wanted to ping the congregation regarding clutches. I know there are several makes, and I wanted to see if y'all with 5-speeds could post what type of clutch you have, or upgraded to and why.

I'm installing a NV4500, and I'll need a clutch that will handle up to 350 hp/800 tq and heavy towing - around 12,000 lbs of trailer weight - up and down the Rockies. Exhaust brake will be installed.

Initially I am leaning towards a South Bend Dyna Max MU 13-1. 25 CON OFE.



Thoughts?

Many thanks,

- M2

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Look at my sig. - I'm running a Con-O with about 50,000 miles on it and I am very happy with it. It holds HP well and there is no launch shudder.



Bob

 

[bgilbert]

I have a 13" Con FE from South Bend. No complaints. Holds 900+ ft-lbs. Don't try to go cheap with your clutch. You'll pay for it in the end.

 

[CSchafer]

fried the stocker and a centerforce pretty quick. My 13in FE holds well though. It's quite grabby though. I have heard great things about the ofe.

 

[DVolk]

5 speed clutch options -testimonials

I have a LUK ProGold in my 92 pulls a 7,000lb stock trailer empty weight loaded with bulls abot 2,000 a peice just fine i dont baby it



the price is arount $300. 00 they have 3 stages of clutchs this is a tow rated one i got .



Im not about to spend a $1000. 00 on a pick up clutch , i need more clutch than that ill install the sae bell houseing and install a Road Ranger transmission and still buy a 300. 00 clutch that you will never slip



no pick up cltuch should cost more than a Peterbilts clutch ,



think about it those of you that are ,are getting ripped off get the stock one rebuilt first

 

[MMiller]

Don

Your sig does not say, but what power level are you at? My sachs has been working fine, and I'm up on power and tow heavy, but not near the power level that Max is going to run.



Its great that your clutch is working for you. If you don't want to spend $1000 on a clutch then thats fine. Max was looking for testimonials, and so far everybody is right on the money. I'm not scared to spend money with a company that has the reputation of SBC. I also don't think the $700 I just spent on a Con O with brand new flywheel, sealed roller pilot bearing and the gaurantee to tow extremely heavy and hold 350hp/750tq is that bad of a deal. Especially since I spent almost $600 for a Sachs clutch 10 years ago with no flywheel.



Michael

 

[dpuckett]

Here we go again.

 

[DVolk]

5 speed clutch options -testimonials

Im running basicly stock if my truck was bumped up it was not by me any how , its no sloutch either , it will run , its no hot rod ,



Im far from being rich at all , the luk is what im told is the new OEM clutch



lets face it it dont matter any how the big 3 auto manufactures accept the lowest bid so thats what they use , it just happend to be that first it was

Sachs , now its Luk , next time it could be zoom , or center force etc .



Im not knocking SBC at all just a price thats heavily inflated .



When i know for a fact that you can take a clutch disc in and have it



relined with just about any friction material thats out there and have the pressure plate redone to basicly any pressure , for still less money .



When it cost more than a class 8 clutch thats almost 3 times its size and weight im just conserned is all think about it , if they were life time replace

ment with no questions asked then fine . for that price .



But if your not a do it your selfer like me , at those prices that sbc



wants it be almost $3,000. 00 for a clutch , its cheaper to junk the truck for that much .



Heres anouther intersting thought . The new OEM Dodge is rated at 325HP



at 610 LB of torque , this is the same LUK clutch now offerd



for our gen 1 trucks as well as gen 2 and there is 2 more stages for horse power up grades for just a couple hundred bucks ,



Id say if its driven and treated correctly it will hold to gether ,



id be willing tombet on it or install the new one but since im in NW Oregon



i dont have to worry about that one

 

[JLEONARD]

When i know for a fact that you can take a clutch disc in and have it

relined with just about any friction material thats out there

I don't think that happen around here (Ct). My son is in the auto repair business and he hasn't heard of that being done and neither have I.

Jay

 

["Mad Max"]

It's all good fellas I appreciate everyone opinions, especially the ones that possibly lead to a cheaper way to get a result. I take all views equally and determine how I want to proceed accordingly. For example, I was all set on buying a 4500 new with all the upgrades, but, I found a local transmission shop, highly recommended, and found a used 4500, and the shop knew all of the 'voodoo' to upgrade the 4500's, and the end price will be slightly less than a new 4500. That's a win-win for me two ways - money wise, and I have a local shop that I can give my business to as well as have a resource for future work.

On the clutches - I'm totally hip to using a reman'd clutch, so long as I can find a local shop that has done it and has no problem doing it again, and can 'guarantee' it won't dicintegrate.

A good example I have of not needing the biggest and baddest, is I had a stock 11" clutch behind my very warm 440, which ate the clutch disk. Simply put it wasn't the best quality even though it was a big 11"er. So, I went to a 10. 5" Centerforce unit, and I haven't been able to kill it. Used smaller clutch, better result. Now if I can find a local shop that has a good clutch that will fit a stock 12. 25 Cummins flywheel, sweet. If not I'll upgrade to the 13"er.

I still have lots of research to do, and in the end I'm sure I'll be happy. I don't want to pay too much for an overkill clutch, but, 800-1000 lbs of torque is a lot to contain, so, that's where the ratings of companies, and testimonials from folks that are using them, makes a big impact on my decision.

Keep 'em coming.

- M2

 

[MMiller]

FWIW Max, the first gens used a 13" clutch, and most never failed, then the second gens recieved the lower priced smaller clutch, and have had failures.



I also have a Centerforce behind a 440, and highly recommend it in a gasser application, but have read many times here that they flat don't live behind a cummins.



I'd also read what SBC has on thier webcite, they have a cheeper Con0 that is not for towing, it will rip the center out while towing. Its been documented here lots of times too, were somebody tried to go cheep and had a "do-over".



As far as I'm concerned, the Sachs is a very good unit, and will hold some serious power and weight. I'm harder on stuff then the normal guy, and have heard nothing but rave reviews on the SBC stuff. If you go and talk to them, they also have stock Sachs, and Luk clutches for sale.



I'm assuming this is for your mega-crew cab truck, and I've seen the level of time and energy you put into your Ram Charger. I'm sure you will make the right desicion for what you want in the end. Talk with Peter @ SBC and ask him about all the clutches.



Michael

 

[CSchafer]

There is no doubt in my mind that SBC are way overpriced. My FE has luk stamped in the pressure plate . But I can testify to a centerforce not working in the diesel. The one in my mustang was awsome but the weights that come out under rpm don't really do any good when your making 700+lbs of torque at 1700 rpm Oo. I havent tested a luk but if anybody can kill one I can and I've heard of other people killing them quick. With south bend your gonna hate biteing the bullit but you will have a clutch that does everything it sayes and more. South bend will stand behind there stuff. You can pay $1000 for a clutch or $1500 for two clutches in the same year . It's up to you.

Good luck,



Cade

 

["Mad Max"]

Thanks for the words about the RC Mike . I will definitely not be cutting corners on the driveline, including the clutch, unless I find a proven underworld way to do it :-laf .



I just talked with Peter at SBC, and got all of my conversion questions answered. Since I am planning to push over 350 hp and close to 1000 lbs of torque, and I know my driving style (I don't like to slow down on these hills out here called the Rocky Mountains), I'll have the coals stoked and hot occasionally, so, an awesome clutch will be mandatory, as will be all the voodoo done to the transmission. At this point I'll probably go with the SBC OFE. Got the transmission and t-case covered, now I'm focusing on gearing and tire sizes.



I am going with 19. 5's, and probably 285-70/19. 5 AT tires, and I'm planning to run 3. 73's, and when that all adds up... at 80 mph I should be humming right along at 2000 rpm. Most of my driving will be unloaded, so that'll only be 8000 lbs of truck - no problem. Add a 5000 lb car hauler and a 4000 lb car, plus 3 good friends, and a 2000 mile trip to the Nationals... and back... and that adds up to a lot of boost/torque for a long time, and THAT means awesome components.



Still want to hear more about clutches folks.



- M2

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I agree about SBC Peter does stand behind what he sells. He also has some tricks that he does to the LUK pressure plate before he sends it out. That may be why they hold up as well as they do. I have run mine at 417 RWHP on the dyno without any problem. I don't mind paying top dollar for that kind of service.



Bob

 

[Sri Ram]

I replaced my Sachs with a Sachs. Works fine for me, but I'm only a little over stock HP/TQ. The collective wisdom seems to be that for towing, Sachs is it. For high HP, you'll likely need something else. Where can we see pics of the RC???

 

["Mad Max"]

... not to sabotage my own thread, but here's a link to the RC build-up. It's uh, a very long thread...



http://ramchargercentral.com/boards/index.php?topic=49434.0



- M2

 

[DVolk]

5 speed clutch options -testimonials

A shop that reliens clutchs is Otts friction Supply in Portland Oregon

on Columbia BLVD



Im shure theres other places in the country



Aperson may also contact any of The Six States Distributing locations



there the distributors for new process , eaton , Luk and others spicer Dana

 

[dpuckett]

"Mad Max"- there is (was in 02) a shop in ColoSpgs that relines clutches. I forget where they are exactly, maybe over by Whistler Bearing or Drivetrain Industries (somewhere near I-25- it's been 5 years, gimme a break). I found out they'd reline my Sachs for less than half what I'd paid for my new clutch, brand of which shall remain unnamed , AFTER I had installed it. might check the phone book. Cant get much closer than that.



If you find out who, pass the info along.



DP

 

["Mad Max"]

DP,



Was that with a stock clutch (12. 25") or an upgrade, and how much power is that clutch holding?



My biggest issue is I'll have big weight, and eventually real big power - probably 400 hp and 1000 tq with everything turned on.



- M2