Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Southbend Feramic VS. LuK Cerametallic

[Jerred]

I'm looking for a new clutch, around 500rwhp or so, for dyno's and drags. I have had both the LuK13" Cerametallic and Southbend MU13-1. 25 ConFE strongly recommended by several owners. Anyone have experience with BOTH and have any comparison info to provide? I dyno'd 344hp this weekend but the 0090 ConO was slipping bad, which tells me that my truck can pull much more hp as the clutch SHOULD hold 400hp, according to the Southbend website. Don't even ask about the dragstip, 3rd-5th gear were almost unusable.



I know Southbend uses some Luk (and other) parts and rebuilds for a specific purpose and they say that the Feramic fiction discs they use hold as well or better than the cerametallic LuK's with better longevity.



I'm leaning toward the ConFE, due to several well respected opinions, BUT, I am experiencing, what I would consider, a failed Southbend product (truck dyno's less than 350 while slipping on a clutch rated to 400hp). Any further advice before a large expediture would be greatly appreciated!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The fact that your '400hp' clutch is slipping at '~350hp' doesn't surprise me a bit and I wouldn't consider that a product failure.



The hp guidelines are an estimate and every truck/driver is different - so your experiences/mileage may vary, etc.



Matt

 

[Jerred]

Holeshot,



You're right, I should have expressed myself in a more refined manner. The HP ratings are estimates and how you apply power to a clutch will certainly effect the final power handling characteristics, not to mention repetative abuse and resulting heat buildup. Overall the ConO served me well at almost 2 1/2 times stock RWHP, it's just time to move on to greener and more robust pastures! I was just REALLY hoping that the old ConO would hold a bit more power so I could throw money in other directions first! Denied!



So, anyone out there that can throw in their two cents about our little clutch shootout discussion?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

So, anyone out there that can throw in their two cents about our little clutch shootout discussion?

The unfortunate thing is that anyone who really knows what they are talking about is a vendor or is friends with a vendor... good luck getting some unbiased opinions.



What do you have in mind for a final HP goal? That's a loaded question since you always go up in power no matter how much you have...



Once you get into the big $ single disc clutches... you're smack dab in the middle of a dual disc. I'm not even going to mess around with a single disc clutch in my '98...



Matt

 

[Jerred]

Holeshot,



Well, I think I've come to a crossroads here. I had my sights set on building a set of twins (I'm a fairly accomplished welder and mechanic)... . until this weekend at a dyno/drag event. It seems like once you go to twins/drugs, you might as well not even try unless you're looking to make 600hp+. The Open class winner did 568hp. If I stay with a single turbo and no drugs and can achieve 450hp+ on #2 alone, I can be REAL competative against the Street class trucks that I've seen, on the dyno or the track. Of course, once I get the right clutch and turbo, I'm going to get the head done (ringed, headgasket, etc... ) so I can start tweeking up the boost pressures. But that's another topic, probably this spring time frame.



I talked to Peter at Southbend and told him what I am aiming to accomplish and he thought that the 13" ConFE would be the way to go. I rode along in a truck at the drags on Saturday with a guy that had the dual disc clutch in his truck (he also pulls, so rather than buy two clutches, he went straight for the big boy DD). That clutch took all the abuse he could throw at it on the strip and he says it's awesome to pull with. BUT, normal driving is severely hampered (he damn near needed two hands to get it to fall into gear!). I'm a weekend warrior with the truck, lot's of highway miles, and a few dyno/drag events here and there. So, I was thinking of getting the biggest single disc I can and just being content with whatever hp it will hold. Right now, with just a turbo upgrade I figure I'm well into the low 400hp range with 40lb boost (safe for stock headgasket). On my way to 500hp with some other upgrades, I'm just hoping the single disc will hold and give me descent longevity and drivability.



I know I'm asking alot of a clutch, but Peter seemed to think that it was the way to go, even though I'm sure he'd love to up-sell me to the Dual Disc!!

 

[boondock]

I am in the same boat as you. I posted a clutch thread I am sure you have read. My stock clutch is slipping a little and I want to upgrade to something that will hold 500+ hp. I was leaning toward the Luk but now I am leaning hard to the HMR street twin or street puller. Sounds like it more like what we need as single disk clutches don't do well with slipping and lots of power. Here is the website http://www.haisleymachine.com/clutches.htm A little more but it seems as though it will last at least I hope it would/will.

 

[scramblin]

The reason my plate is full back was because I was able to slip my conO with the plate in the middle. As soon as I slid it back the slipping stopped. I don't know what my hp is but even all the way back some estimate over 400 hp. Since then, I upgraded to OFE and should put the plate back in the middle. I have banged gears with the ofe and it grabs real strong, every gear. I am neither a vendor or a friend of SBC. Just a happy customer.

 

[Jerred]

Thanks man, that's what I was looking for. I think part of my problem was that I am NOT an experienced racer, and I think I was a little timid with dropping the engine on the clutch, as a result, I probably feathered in the power enough to get it slipping and once I dropped the load on it, there was no way it would hold. When I got home, I went out and did a little experimenting, dropping 2000rpm's or more hard onto each gear and it held pretty well except 4th gear. You're just way to far into the power curve in that gear and it slipped, but it did hold 3rd and 5th gear nicely. So I take back all the mean things I said about the ConO!! But, I do need more clutch. I'll check out the Haisley website as well before buying the SBC. I have time to look around, I can't smell my clutch anymore at least and it will hold around town. Although I think I may have damaged the springs a little on the friction plate.



Any other input? I really want to stay away from a DD if I can.