Southbend Clutch

[scottmcd]

Finally decided that I need the new clutch! What all parts do i need to make sure get changed out, while getting the work done. Pretty sure I am going with the Con OFE. TIA, Scott

 

[scottmcd]

Which would be a better set up for me, the Con OFE, or the Con FE? TIA, Scott

 

[JMichelson]

Scott

I have a Con OFE in my 06. I been very happy with it. It holds good, with my Smarty JR. on the 70 hp setting, which obviously it should. It's tends to be a bit grabby but nothing bad. It is noisier than stock at idle but nothing I can't live with for as well as it works. It was an excellent replacement for a stock clutch.

Jeff

 

[JCleary]

The OFE is an awesome clutch. It held my '03's 500-550hp and 960+ tq. I took it down the drag strip a few times and it never slipped. I did a 2nd-3rd-4th burnout with a chirp in 5th and it never slipped. I could also back a trailer w/o a problem using a little rpm. Overall I think it's a fantastic clutch!

 

[zstroken]

OFE would be my clutch of choice.

 

[RobertP]

my OFE made me a believer, that thing was unreal. very smooth clutch, and it held up to 603hp-1082tq on my truck. i beat the snot out of it everyday for at least a year or more. then i ran it at the track doing some back to back passes, and went 13. 3 with a 1. 8 60 ft. then fried it about three hot laps later. that was an awesome clutch.

 

[dan.poitras]

Don't forget to also do the hydraulics upgrade as your stock setup won't last long as mine did

 

[scottmcd]

Is there anything else I should look at changing besides the Hydralic kit? Don't ant to miss anything.

Any thoughts on the FE.

 

[firehound]

if I had it to do over again Id start out with the FE. I read all these guys who have had GREAT luck with the ofe at high power levels. but I know I cant do a launch with my smarty on 9 with out smoking the disk. then I get to smell it for the next few days. I will say it does hold to stomping on it in 6th at 40 mph and runs hard all the way to 90 with out a problem 1000 times better then the stock, had to feather that WAY to much. but these are just my 2 cents. sooner or later I will be upgrading when I can part with the money to redo the fly wheel and down time on the truck.

 

[prestonmck]

Youll get another 100 horse of holding power for about another $100 with the FE. With my upgraded hydraulics the clutch safety switch failed shortly after and had to by pass it when i was out on the road. I hear this is a common occurance with the upgraded hydaulics. something south bend may want to look into

 

[SNoyes]

Probably should give Peter at SBC a call. Tell him your goals and he'll set you up with what fits.

 

[TheWolf]

What are your plans for the truck? Do you tow? race? sledpull? How much hp?

 

[josh8811]

I just put an OFE in my 04. 5 and it's an awesome upgrade. . I didn't realize just how shot my old clutch was until I installed a new one. . The engagement is grappy and it does make noise but I'm hoping the engagement milds out. . I've noticed it's most grappy when trying to do a soft second gear start. . I feel I need to tow here soon to help break it in. .

 

[scottmcd]

I will be doing a little racing on the strip, towing anything from 4-25k. Have not had it on the Dyno, but am running the Hot Juice now. I want to get some DDP 90hp, after the SBC. TIA, Scott

 

[JCleary]

I just put an OFE in my 04. 5 and it's an awesome upgrade. . I didn't realize just how shot my old clutch was until I installed a new one. . The engagement is grappy and it does make noise but I'm hoping the engagement milds out. . I've noticed it's most grappy when trying to do a soft second gear start. . I feel I need to tow here soon to help break it in. .

Drive it easy for a few hundred miles, it may or may not smooth out.



If it's not smooth after 500-1000 miles, do a hard launch and let 'er rip through the gears. That clutch needs to be beat up a little bit to ease the grabbiness of it.



Once I beat on mine, it would stay smooth for a while. Not something that can be said for the FE.

 

[scottmcd]

I ordered the Con OFE today, will get it installed on Tuesday 5/27. I ordered the clutch kit, hydraulics kit and decided to get the BD short shift kit... what the heck. Am I forgetting anything???? TIA, Scott

 

[scottmcd]

Just picked up my truck from the shop, after getting the clutch installed. Roads are alittle damp to really test it out, but it does fell grabby. Alot to get used to, with the new clutch, and the BD shift kit.



The clutch pedal fells really soft? Not sure if it is because of the new hydraulics or not. Fluid level is good. Any ideas on that. TIA, Scott

 

[JBonpua]

Just picked up my truck from the shop, after getting the clutch installed. Roads are alittle damp to really test it out, but it does fell grabby. Alot to get used to, with the new clutch, and the BD shift kit.



The clutch pedal fells really soft? Not sure if it is because of the new hydraulics or not. Fluid level is good. Any ideas on that. TIA, Scott

From what I understand, the upgraded hydraulics creates more slipage than OEM to help ease the "grabbiness" that is why the pedal feelssoft? I am looking at getting the economy DD that Peter was talking about at May Madness. From what he said, the only difference between the standard DD and the economy DD is that the flywheel is not SFI certified.



Anyone running the economy DD? I wonder how much more grabby it is over the OFE or FE.

 

[RobertP]

i dont think mines the economy DD but i do have the 3250 pressure plate and it is very streetable. this is my daily driver. and from what i have heard the 12CB clutches are smoother than mine being a 6CB

 

[Dbonzi]

I ordered the Con OFE today, will get it installed on Tuesday 5/27. I ordered the clutch kit, hydraulics kit and decided to get the BD short shift kit... what the heck. Am I forgetting anything???? TIA, Scott

Scottmcd

I too am thinking about ordering a Con Ofe and was wondering what your thoughts are on it, now that you have had it a day or two. Have you had a chance to see if it will hold the power?

Is it too grabby where you can't back up a trailer?

Dennis