clutchflite transmission

[Todd T]

any of you remember these?



we had a talk about these at our last club meeting. I think this type of setup would be great in our trucks. just think DTT auto with a SBC clutch holding it to the engine.



for those of you i have confused. Dodge used to make a transmission that you used a clutch to take off and stop with (no torque converter). and in between you would have three or four forward gears shifted by an automatic valve body and transmission.



basically, the clutch launches and stops you and then it just drives the pump on the front of an automatic transmission which has all the smarts fluid coupling, heat, TCC slippage all done away with.



somebody make me one... . PLEASE

 

[easleyj1]

clutch flite

My first job out of high school was working in a trans. shop that sub-contracted to build TCI racing trans. We built several clutch flites and they shift so had that I don't think they would be very practical on the street. By the way Dodge didn't build them, the after market did.



J. E.

 

[kchristopher]

The advent of good, high-stall converters meant there was no longer a need for clutch-flites. As easley said, they don't make good street trannies. There's a mopar guy in Memphis that used to make them, might still have some left on the shelf. Give him a call (John Vinson).





(901)274-7248

JVX/Memphis Performance

1458 Chealse Ave.

Memphis, Tennessee 38108

 

[Briar Hopper]

I had the B & M 2 speed Powerglide clutch automatic in my '67 Camaro for a year and a half. That was 20 years ago, though. Wish we had the option of something like that for the trucks...

 

[Todd T]

OK guys, care to elaberate a bit on the shiftiness?



here is my outlook. we have a clutch that can hold our power levels now (actually several). but we dont have a converter that can transfer 100% of the torque, 100% of the time. NOBODY can outshift an automatic with a manual. so lets bring the best of both worlds together.



you clutch it to launch, whether you sidestep or feather is your call, depending on the conditions. then you sit back and let the automatic do it's thing. what, you want to control the shift points or hold out a certain gear. OK use a manual valve body or just shift it manually.



no you guys tell me your outlook, on a clutchflite. you said they shift funny, how so?

 

[fox]

Todd T since we discussed this at the last meet ,I am trying to find the parts.

I think the shift funny comment just means they shift HARD.

The torqueflite can shift hard when set up for racing and I think it would get tiring for an every day truck.

I am also hoping the trans experts jump in.

Those ATS guys that like to shift locked can probably tell us something.

I think Bill K will side with my comment about it being too much for every day.

do you want to ride with us to tere haute? I bet you are going to be there.





fox

 

[Jumbo Jet]

My first car - I was 13 years old - a 1953 Dodge ugly green 4-door.



I loved the clutch feature with this "automatic" transmission.



That flat head 6 engine could really burn the rubber off those bias-ply tires when I popped that clutch.



Reason I got the car at 13 was because my Dad bought it for my 16 year old nymphomaniac sister who refused to drive it because of it's ugliness! Same sister is looking for her 6th husband BTW.

 

[Todd T]

TMI Jumbo (Too Much Information)



John I wont make schieds i have to stay home and paint a rear quarter and bumber cover on a Neon for $640



I couldnt pass it up!! that's about $600 in profit for ten minutes work.





with a properly setup valve body you could get the shifts smoothed out (laser cut pin holes). is that the only thing holding us back here? I better look serious into this thing before i dump 2. 5K on a new transmission.

 

[JConley]

Pretty neat idea Todd, but here are some issues



Were they mating this transmission with a Diesel? This clutch flite is like the ATS setup except I dont get lockup until 20 MPH. Even when I lockup at 20, the engine doesnt have the time to build boost, and it bogs down. When I lockup at lower speeds, (around 30) I put the truck in manual 2nd, and shift manually to drive around 2600 RPM. The truck gets up to 2600 RPM again, and then shifts into OD. This seems to be the fastest way to accellerate when setting lockup for lower speeds. I set my lockup for around 40 MPH for daily driving. In my experience, lockup below 35 MPH is not something you are going to like for daily driving.



You are correct about the laser cut pin holes smoothing out the shifts. Mine shifts as smooth locked up as a stock transmission. I have had two different valve bodys from ATS installed in my truck. The only difference between the two was the plate that had the pin holes. It made a HUGE difference!! If you get this setup, I would like a ride

 

[Todd T]

well John I see your point. but that would all be taken care of in the valve body and its shift points.



the one question this has brought to my mind now, is can the internals of our transmission take the spiking and hard shifting without the converter to take up some of that shock.



it would probably take a ton of fine tuning on the valve body to get the shifts just right. not too hard, not too soft



AHH, foowy on it. I'll just get this slushbox rebuilt.

 

[JConley]

Can the internals take the hard shifting you ask?



To be honest that is the question most asked, and the one I asked first. Some say yes, some say no. I am going to drive mine until it blows up, and then I will let you know. I feel more of a surge than a spike during the times I feel anything at all. I dont worry about it.

 

[Reb.B]

this is what i told Nowel last week. either use a clutch flight or a lenco. this is the way to go. The problem with a clutch flight in our trucks may be overdrive, but i'm sure it could be figured out. The beauty of this set up is that u eliminate the convertor and the all the heat generated by the converter. Sure the transmission will hold up, ... . every gear is cltch driven. Remember, heat is the worst enemy of auto, and removing the convertor is removing heat. it should work killer, ... but driving in down u would have to shift with a clutch and u would have to build the transmission into a full manual. but truthfully, ... the street lenco is THE best way to go, . . at least for a 2wd vehical.

 

[Hammer]

Clutch Flite 101........

Todd T...

Now you have sparked a wild idea that you will soon see that is not as easy as you may think,,Remember this,the use of clutch flites(aka-a 727 Torqueflite mated with a multiple disc clutch) was pioneered in the early days of fuel coupe,or funny car as we all know it,,As the technology marched forward(along with may explosions due to excessive hp these cars were beginning to make)clutch flite made their way out of funny cars into some Early Pro Gas cars(now known as Top Alcohol F/C and dragster)and some competition eliminator cars,,With the advent of newer and more efficent torque convertors and better valve bodies they have been pushed aside,,One thing with these animals,if you have ever driven one,was the inconsistency of the hooks,,By that I mean very rarely did they hook the car the same way twice,,Hook to hard meant big wheelstands or tire spin,hook to soft and it never fully recovered and meant soft reaction times and inconsistent et's.....



Now if you are looking for one I know a gentleman who does these trannies for the nostalgia racers and they do not come cheap,,Most of the parts to use them are hand made(input shafts and other internal parts)to make use of the hp made today,,I do not think,with the driving time I have had with one,they would make a nice transmission deal for our trucks,,There are more practical ways to make the HP go to the ground and do it more efficently,,Your truck your choice,,Let me know if you want pics of one and I'll see if I can sneek by his shop and get you some pics ,,The one I have is in pieces in my shop,took it out of a old drag car I had and never put it back together,put a Lenco in it back then it was easier to tune to track conditions and more fun to drive... ... Andy

 

[fox]

One more issue, you will need the bell-housing. One that will mate to the Cummins and also bolt to the pump bolts after the old housing is cut off.

At least I think you will need to remove the original BH.

I would want to for safety sake.

I wander what JVC in Jacksonville Fl. would charge to make one.

Maybe with the hydralic throw-out bear set ups that are on the racing market, it could be done with the stock BH.

 

[rrausch]

Jumbo Jet, look on the bright side... at least she believes in marriage!