Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I have been gathering the parts needed to do a 6-speed conversion on my '96 Ram. I already have an '03 NV5600, shifter handle (no knob), and the factory flywheel. These came from a very low-mile wrecked truck and the flywheel looks brand new.
I have recently found a stock LUK clutch (disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing) with @ 2k miles on it. It also looks brand new and was swapped out by the owner who went for 600+ HP on his Cummins after gently breaking his motor in with the stock clutch and wanted something more heavy duty to handle the planned power increase.
My engine is stock and has @ 146k on it. I may one day find the excuse and money to crank up the power on my Cummins, but frankly, it isn't high on my priority list right now. My sons' motocross racing and our '69 Camaro project car requires all of my "High Performance cash" right now, and I'm OK with that. I am mostly after reliability and fuel economy from my pickup and don't do excessively heavy towing or hauling and don't live in the mountains.
As a professional truck driver, my idea of "heavy hauling" may differ from other folks', though. I work my truck, but no harder than I ever did my trusty old Chevy K-30 with it's 454. I have found the stock Cummins 12V motor adequate if unexciting power-wise. I am doing the 6-speed conversion because I have already had my 5th gear nut replaced in my 5-speed and because I think the Cummins needs that extra gear to improve driveability.
Given a limited budget and an experienced, professional level of clutching skill, is there any reason to avoid a stock-type LUK clutch? I can get the clutch assembly for $180. That is a major savings from any clutch deal I have yet found, and I can use some of that savings to pay for the other components, such as a 6-speed crossmember, that I still need.
The clutch is so new and unabused, it still has printing on the facing and the pressure plate machining marks are perfect. It would be difficult to tell it from a new-in-the-box clutch. I have had no issues with the stock clutch that has been in my truck for 146k; just the 5-speed.
Your opinions and experience on what I would be getting for my $180 would be most appreciated.
I have recently found a stock LUK clutch (disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing) with @ 2k miles on it. It also looks brand new and was swapped out by the owner who went for 600+ HP on his Cummins after gently breaking his motor in with the stock clutch and wanted something more heavy duty to handle the planned power increase.
My engine is stock and has @ 146k on it. I may one day find the excuse and money to crank up the power on my Cummins, but frankly, it isn't high on my priority list right now. My sons' motocross racing and our '69 Camaro project car requires all of my "High Performance cash" right now, and I'm OK with that. I am mostly after reliability and fuel economy from my pickup and don't do excessively heavy towing or hauling and don't live in the mountains.
As a professional truck driver, my idea of "heavy hauling" may differ from other folks', though. I work my truck, but no harder than I ever did my trusty old Chevy K-30 with it's 454. I have found the stock Cummins 12V motor adequate if unexciting power-wise. I am doing the 6-speed conversion because I have already had my 5th gear nut replaced in my 5-speed and because I think the Cummins needs that extra gear to improve driveability.
Given a limited budget and an experienced, professional level of clutching skill, is there any reason to avoid a stock-type LUK clutch? I can get the clutch assembly for $180. That is a major savings from any clutch deal I have yet found, and I can use some of that savings to pay for the other components, such as a 6-speed crossmember, that I still need.
The clutch is so new and unabused, it still has printing on the facing and the pressure plate machining marks are perfect. It would be difficult to tell it from a new-in-the-box clutch. I have had no issues with the stock clutch that has been in my truck for 146k; just the 5-speed.
Your opinions and experience on what I would be getting for my $180 would be most appreciated.
