Experience with SBC 3600 or 3850 DD clutches

[DESL PWR]

I am trying to figure out which Clutch would work best for me and would like some first hand experiences from those with dual disk clutches to help. The truck in my sig is my daily driver but unfortunately there is a sled pull track 5 miles from my house. My first pull with the stock clutch was plain embarrassing so I need to upgrade.

My questions about these two clutches are:

1 Pedal pressure how much more is it? Do you really need to upgrade the hydraulics for the 3850# version?

2 Engagement smoothness, Ceramic vs feramic materials.

3 The 3600# is rated for "light" sled pulling, what does that really equate to? 5-6 pulls per year? 10-12?



Any thoughts, experience or opinions would help. Thanks in advance. I have read a lot on this subject and am starting to go crosseyed.

 

[Highfinance97]

I am trying to figure out which Clutch would work best for me and would like some first hand experiences from those with dual disk clutches to help. The truck in my sig is my daily driver but unfortunately there is a sled pull track 5 miles from my house. My first pull with the stock clutch was plain embarrassing so I need to upgrade.

My questions about these two clutches are:

1 Pedal pressure how much more is it? Do you really need to upgrade the hydraulics for the 3850# version?

2 Engagement smoothness, Ceramic vs feramic materials.

3 The 3600# is rated for "light" sled pulling, what does that really equate to? 5-6 pulls per year? 10-12?



Any thoughts, experience or opinions would help. Thanks in advance. I have read a lot on this subject and am starting to go crosseyed.

#1. The pedel pressure on my 3850 was a little stiffer so i did get the hydraulic upgrade from peter.

Im small (125Lbs :-laf ) so it helped me out a lot. I love it,easy install



#2 I have the ceramic. when i start out in 2nd it chatters abit. NOW reverse its suprisingly smooth. My ConFe was real bad in reverse



#3 Peter is the best person to ask that. But so far there is 5 hooks on my 3850 and at the end of each pull its been wonderful. Not soft at all



I hope that helps

Michael

 

[JGK]

I have the 3600 and I don't do pulls. Just a daily driver. I went to this clutch in anticipation of twins. I think if you're going to do pulls I'd suggest you go with the 3850.



-Jay

 

[jwilliams3]

Get the 3850 if your going to pull more than once a year.

Really the pulling ratings are for trucks that launch like they mean it when they are pulling. "light sled pulling" is really for the guy who takes his truck once a year to the fair with 400hp and basically does a drop and go with the clutch.....

Extreme or Heavy pulling is a guy not unlike myself who walks the truck out 40 feet while in 5th gear at redline with 60lbs of boost trying to get the motor to stay lit up... ... .....

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

DESL PWR,



The feramic will be too grabby for street use.



I have 3 friends with the South Bend DD clutches, two are 3850 12 CB and one is 4200 12 CB. They all love them. After you get 200 miles on the clutch hook to a sled or do a 3rd gear burnout to make the clutch less grabby.



Trent

 

[wildmanben]

while were on the topic, is there much advantage of the 4200# pressure plate over the 3850#? Obviously you can hold a 100 more hp. They are both the same price. Or would that much pressure be a pain on the street?

 

[DESL PWR]

Thanks for the inputs. My truck is running somewhere between 350 and 400hp right now. I haven't done anything else to it since the clutch is already struggling to hold. I plan on pulling around 6-10 times per year, and of course making more power (500 range).

So with that in mind sounds like Id be better off with a 3850. Anyone disagree with the feramic being more grabby? How about noise when in neutral? Any difference in the ceramic vs feramic material?



Thanks again,

Dave

 

[Got Smoke?]

I have the 3850 12CB DD in my truck and have been driving on it everyday for the past two years. I have about 10-12 hooks on it... 1 being 2nd Hi(not good for 5spd/3. 55s) every other being 3rd Low. Oh and who knows how many 3rd gear burnouts. It still drives great everyday, and holds everything I can throw at it laughing the whole time.



Its definitely feasible to be a daily driven, odviously I have mine with no probs. I did upgrade my hydraulics, but it was trying to figure out a slight bottoming out problem. Your stock 12V hydraulics should handle it just fine.



Pedal pressure with definately be harder, but not something you can't withstand. You will be more likely to leave it in neutral at a red light rather than hold the clutch in, but I'm only 160lbs myself and have no trouble driving it.



You will definatley want the ceramic button's though as they are more forgiving, and more driveable than feramic. Feramic is much more grabby, and does not like to be slipped so your truck will lurch/buck/hope when attempting 2nd gear starts. Stick with the Ceramic... ... you'll be very happy with it!

 

[Highfinance97]

I have the 3850 12CB DD in my truck and have been driving on it everyday for the past two years. I have about 10-12 hooks on it... 1 being 2nd Hi(not good for 5spd/3. 55s) every other being 3rd Low. Oh and who knows how many 3rd gear burnouts. It still drives great everyday, and holds everything I can throw at it laughing the whole time.



Its definitely feasible to be a daily driven, odviously I have mine with no probs. I did upgrade my hydraulics, but it was trying to figure out a slight bottoming out problem. Your stock 12V hydraulics should handle it just fine.



Pedal pressure with definately be harder, but not something you can't withstand. You will be more likely to leave it in neutral at a red light rather than hold the clutch in, but I'm only 160lbs myself and have no trouble driving it.



You will definatley want the ceramic button's though as they are more forgiving, and more driveable than feramic. Feramic is much more grabby, and does not like to be slipped so your truck will lurch/buck/hope when attempting 2nd gear starts. Stick with the Ceramic... ... you'll be very happy with it!

Well Said!!!!!!!! Except i wouldnt leave the clutch in for a long light. or for me, any light that is :-laf



Michael

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

wildmanben,



There is pedal pressure difference between the 3850 and the 4200, both 12 CB. The only difference in the trucks is the 4200 is in an '04. 5 and the 3850 in an '01, don't know if that has any thing to do with it.



Trent

 

[Got Smoke?]

wildmanben,



There is pedal pressure difference between the 3850 and the 4200, both 12 CB. The only difference in the trucks is the 4200 is in an '04. 5 and the 3850 in an '01, don't know if that has any thing to do with it.



Trent

I have driven a 98 12V equipped with the Iron Giant 4200lbs plate load. The initial depressing of the clutch is not any different than a 3850 plate load, its when you hold it IN! that you will quickly realize how heavy it is! :-laf



Mr. Adkins got quite a good laugh at me driving the forementioned clutch since as I mentioned I'm only 160lbs and 5'10. :-laf

 

[DESL PWR]

Thanks again for all the inputs. Sounds like the 3850 12CB is the one I am after.

 

[KHelfrich]

when i looked into the clutches i looked at southbend but then found power parts engineering clutches they use a more expensive button that can hold more power with the same plate load i went with a 3480 plate load and terry said i sould be good to about 700 hp the clutch is not grabby at all and has taken some abuse when i was riping some trees out in my yard and the truck was on pavement in 4 lo



the reason i wanted low plate load is cause with it being a daily driver and i drive in heavy traffic alot i did not want to worrie about wearing the thrust bearings in the motor from the high plate load



as far as the hydrolics go the upgrated hydrolics are lony needed on 98 up trucks my truck had 99 hydrolics in it and they lasted about 2 days before they went the upgrade is just a set of 94-97 hydrolics with a modified adjustable rod theat foes betwen the master and slave EEP sells the same thing as SBC with out the modified rod for 130 then just throw in the rod from the stock hydrolics if you have a 98 or newer truck



ken