Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) HELP! Slipping SBC Con OFE

[jwinnie]

Well I had my new Con OFE Installed 2 weeks ago. Clutch engagement is nice and smooth although a little more grabby than stock. At first I was aggressive with it (per instructions, not over slipping) for the first 3 days, I had the Pmax 3 up to level 5 with no slippage, it was getting better and better. After that I started driving normal for about a week, had the Pmax off. So Yesterday I was leaving work and decided to mess with one of my buddies in a Powerstroke. I put the Pmax on level 4 and proceeded to blow by in 5th gear, I floored it at about 1800 rpm... ... . It slipped I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what I did wrong. I called South Bend the other day and they said slipping during break in was ok just don't put any heat in it. Any time it slips I back out of it in a split second. I don't know any suggestions would be great.



Thanks,



John



EDIT: I have about 500 miles on the clutch now

 

[Whitmore]

John,

I dont think you are broke in yet, give it some time, It will hold the power you have but dont give it the onion all at once, excellence takes time.



cheers, Kevin

 

[fj40charles]

I remembering reading Peter's post about taking up to 6 months to fully seat.

 

[LSMITH]

No worries man, Peter will take care of you if the clutch does not work as you were told it would. Give it a little time.

 

[jwinnie]

Thanks guys,

I remembering reading Peter's post about taking up to 6 months to fully seat.

6 months!! I had no clue it could take that long. If a customer called me 6 months after the sale complaining, I'd be a little leary (unless he/she was a TDR member ) . A lot can go on in 6 months



fj40charles, How long did it take for yours to fully hook up? you are running a heavier truck with more power than mine so I should be well within the limits of this clutch.



Thanks again, I'm not really worried, I've heard too many good things about SBC

 

[DSteinel]

6 months sounds like a long time to baby your truck, my Mitchell clutch was ready to go when I picked up my truck

 

[WadePatton]

ohmigosh, here we go...

What is the Official break-in for our application of SBC's? Has it been discussed on here. Can somebody gimme a link. Peter, what you doing this morning?



I'll go search.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

6 months to seat a clutch is rediculous. I'm not sure where you got that, but it is incorrect. It should only take a couple of days.



jwinnie,



I would recommend you just give it a little bit of time, weirder things have happened. If it does not change feel free to give me a call.



Peter

 

[MCummings]

Depends on how many miles you drive...



6 months COULD be normal if you only drive 100 miles once every 3 months

My SBC didn't take TOO long, but it wasn't like I expected...



I put it in,, with a re-surfaced fly-wheel, pulled out on a main street,, Romped on it, and it slipped nearly like the stocker AHH, Bad clutch,, took of in 2nd gear while driving in town for the next week or three,,, put it in 6th gear at 1,200 RPM going up a slight hill, and went WOT,, the clutch held perfect all the way to 3,400 RPM.



I slipped my clutch bad last night at the drag strip. ,, I was doing a 3rd gear burnout as usuall,, well, atleast I THOUGHT That was my tires smokin' I looked out the mirrors, hmm,, no smoke,, looked at the tach,, 3,300RPM, looked at speedo 0 MPH,, AGGGHHHH!!! Pushed the clutch in, staged and on that run it slipped a bit, but raced 3 more races that night and clutch smelled real strong, but held every WOT Powershift I could give it. I even towed a 2002 Camaro that smacked the wall hard to his home about 45 minutes away through town with my buddies, Including a Stock 6-speed 2wd reg. cab 2500 long bed. We got to a red light , I was behind him, he took off and I was out accelerating him ,remember this is with a clutch that I just raced about 5 passes, then SMOKED it, then put 3 more passes, and it was still holding 457HP and 950 pounds of torque, pulling a Camaro.



South Bend Clutches are very good clutches,, the MOST streetable, and the most holding power combo in a clutch. Some clutches hold more power, and some clutches are more streetable,, but nothing compares to South Bend Clutch.



Merrick Cummings Jr