Competition Ceramic vs Feramic...

[wildmanben]

OK this is still a toss up. I am going to get a DD here as soon as I make up my mind. I am looking at either the 3850 with the ceramic or feramic. Some have told me to get get the feramic since I was to do some sled pulling while others said that the ceramic will hold up just fine. I know more people running the ceramic, so I want to know what you feramic guys think of them. Thought I would ask here since Peter @ SBC is on vacation.

Thanks

 

[jwilliams3]

How much sledpulling are you going to do? And are you getting serious aggressive/power wise about the sledpulling?

 

[wildmanben]

I would like to go to the local tractors pulls on the weekends, so what maybe, 15-20 hooks a year? For powerwise I am shooting for 650hp.

 

[JGheen]

I am kind of in the same boat with those questions. I also will be going to a DD clutch very soon and am still deciding on which one to get. I have talked to Peter before but Woody is whom I most recently talked to and he recommended the 3600 12CB clutch for my application. I really didn't talk to him very much about the disk material, just what would be best for my application.

My truck is a daily driver and once the DD is in it will become a weekend puller and I am wondering if the 3600 12CB DD is going to hold up to 15-20 hooks per year. The website says "light" sled pulling and Woody told me as long as I am not one of those guys doing pull after pull, it should hold up fine. But I too would like to hear some opinions on these DD clutches before I throw the money down.



Sorry to hijack the thread... ... Joe

 

[jwilliams3]

Guys if your really going to be hooking 15-20 times a year I would strongly advise at the least a 3850 FB.

Now if you are really going to be pulling with 600hp then get the 4200 FB Iron Giant.



I have used the 3600cb, 3850fe/cb, and 3850cb and now the 4200 FB.

I can say that the pedal difference between the 3850 and 4200 for me is almost none that I can tell.

 

[GO 4LO]

The Iron Giants are not near as bad as people make them out to be, IMO. It's grabbier than a stock clutch, and the pedal is stiffer, but I still daily drive mine no prob. IMO, go FB and as high a plate load as you feel comfortable with.



Chris

 

[JGheen]

I want to go wih the 4200lb plate but I really don't want to install the higher pressure hydrolic clutch components. Not sure how much that kit is from SBC but I believe it is needed when going to anything over the 3600lb. plate.



GO 4LO, do you have any issues with your 4200 daily driving? To be more specific, how does it handle on long road trips? Does anything get hot and problematic with the DD and daily driving?? That is my only concern with going to the DD, cuz mine too is a daily driver and I like to take quite a few 4-6 hour road trips during the year.



Joe

 

[JasonCzerak]

I want to go wih the 4200lb plate but I really don't want to install the higher pressure hydrolic clutch components. Not sure how much that kit is from SBC but I believe it is needed when going to anything over the 3600lb. plate.



... .



Joe

on my 04. 5 I upgraded the hydrolics even on my whimpy confe SD. The engagement got real low to the floor. . I like it in the middle, or even better, right on top where have it now... the ConFE seems to like a more of a push on the pressure place with the new higher loaded places (3400#)

 

[wildmanben]

Well I talked to Peter and he said that the 3850 12cb would suit my needs. He wasnt worried that it wouldnt hold. So I am going with that. I maybe have to upgrade in the future if I decide to sled pull all the time, but I think for the fairs that I am planning on going to around here it should be good for now.

 

[jerrethomas]

I want to go wih the 4200lb plate but I really don't want to install the higher pressure hydrolic clutch components. Not sure how much that kit is from SBC but I believe it is needed when going to anything over the 3600lb. plate. Joe

The upgrade is only about 200 bucks. I wasn't putting my clutch in without it. After talking to some guys that blew their stock hydraulic system apart, last thing i wanted to do was rearend someone at a stoplight or something. The upgrade isn't that bad to install either.

 

[JGheen]

Cool, I didn't ask Woody how much the hydro upgrade was but hell, if it's only $200 then that is some good cheap insurance. Guess I will take a 3850 or maybe the 4200 and be done with it instead of going with the 3600 and needing or wanted the 4200 later on down the road.



Anyone have any trouble with daily driving their DD clutches?? Just wondering how they handle on long road trips down the freeways.....



Thanks, Joe

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Freeway driving is absolutely no problem! The only time you'll have issues is if you get into any rush hour traffic where it's stop and go, then your leg will get tired, also off-roading or snow plowing would be a workout.

 

[jwilliams3]

What Tim says.

 

[GO 4LO]

GO 4LO, do you have any issues with your 4200 daily driving? To be more specific, how does it handle on long road trips? Does anything get hot and problematic with the DD and daily driving?? That is my only concern with going to the DD, cuz mine too is a daily driver and I like to take quite a few 4-6 hour road trips during the year.



Joe

No problems whatsoever on long trips. You don't notice it unless you're shifting. The only two times when I find it any less convenient than a stock clutch are (a) during stop-n-go traffic and (b) when towing (and particularly backing) a trailer. That being said, I daily drive it in stop-n-go traffic and while it is worse than the stocker, I don't find it overly objectionable. I've towed about 12k with it a few times, and you notice it only when taking off in first and when backing the trailer. The key is leaving the line with a few more rpm's and letting those plates work for you taking off. Leave in first at 12-1300 with a slow slip, and it's as smooth as stock. When backing, it's the same thing - just keep rpm's a little higher than you would with a stock clutch, and don't ride it.

I had installed the Iron Giant originally with the intent of making the '01 a pulling truck, but I have since bought the '96 and so am using the '01 as a towrig. I have the trans out of the '01 right now and could send the clutch back to SBC to have it rebuilt as a lighter DD, but I will not be doing that. I like the 4200 just fine for daily driving.

Hope that helps.



Chris

 

[JGheen]

No problems whatsoever on long trips. I like the 4200 just fine for daily driving.





Chris

Thats what I wanted to hear, thanks guys. Looks like I will just flat out go wit the 4200 and not screw around with anything lighter. Anyone know how much more the 4200 is over the 3600? Woody told me about $1800 for the 3600, so I am thinking around $1900-2000 for the 4200??



Thanks, Joe

 

[wildmanben]

most places are $1795 for the 4200 12cb and $2300 for the 4200 12fb. Plus the input shaft, $500-700 and the hydraulic kit for $200.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Just under $3000 for a freaking clutch.



That thing better like, last forever

 

[justinp20012500]

Just under $3000 for a freaking clutch.



That thing better like, last forever

Could be worse... Some guys have over 6k in an auto.



Like anything, if I get 50k miles out of any part it have survived in my book.

 

[JGheen]

Just under $3000 for a freaking clutch.



That thing better like, last forever

Thats what I'm talkin' about, hopefully this Iron Giant I will be getting will last forever cuz I don't ever want to put another clutch in this truck. This one will be the 4th one and hopefully the last.



Joe