Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) TST #11 with stock clutch

[lkuykendall]

I am new to the 12 valve so I have a question that I'm sure has been ask a thousand times.

I have a 1996 5 spd. with 160,000 miles. It is very sluggish pulling compared to my 2001 so I decided to upgrade. I just received the #11 TST Power Kit (not installed yet) but I am starting to worry about the stock clutch. I don't want to spend the money on a SB clutch for this pickup so I want feedback from those that have ran the #11 with the stock clutch. Will it hold up if driven conservatively?

Note: Most of the time, this truck will run empty or pulling a light load.



Thanks in advance for any feedback.



Len

 

[Doubleclutch]

The first $.02 in the pot...

Having the same basic truck, tho with fewer miles, I can say that it will surprise you with it's capabilities. Please consider a set of gauges- pyro & boost at least for the beastie. The extra fuel you're about to add will toast your engine's innards if unmonitored! That said, I'm at ~410 hp with a stock clutch. I can spin the thing in 4th and 5th while hot-rodding, but can use the truck pretty aggressively without spinning the clutch. All a matter of how much foot you plant on the skinny pedal. If the '01. 5 is the "Sunday go to meeting truck", you could have a lot of fun with the '96.

Greg

 

[DAZ]

I have a 97 with the #11 plate and just a few other things. With a 33 foot 5th wheel hooked up I can slip the clutch with out trying to hard. With just running around town it seems to do fine. Just take it easy right after installing the plate I did a a burn out and I am not sure if I burnt more rubber off the tires or more clutch material off the clutch. Don't do that!!! Yet I still have the factory clutch in it and besides the fact that it will not fully engage till the top of the peddle all else is fine.



You will love the extra power the #11 gives you, yet I agree that you should get some gauges. Cheap insurance VS a new engine if you run it to hard.

 

[Forrest]

The #11 centered was no problem. The slippage came when it was full forward. 340hp or so.



But that was with injectors added to the equation. Maybe stock + #11 full forward or so won't slip the clutch. Centered is 285hp, safe place to start.

 

[lkuykendall]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the feedback. Have EGT's been a big issue with only the #11 in stock position?

This pickup will have a boost and pre-turbo egt gauge.



Thanks



Len

 

[Elk]

I have the #11 in the stock position and have had no clutch problems. I did have to send the Kitty to the garage and remove the muffler to keep my egt down while pulling my 33 foot toyhauler over the passes (12,000#). You will love the plate I also put in the afc spring kit and have very little smoke.

 

[M Barnett]

I just put one in a 96 last week with 3K gov springs and afc spring and sure did wake it up . Clutch is holding great so far.

Michael

 

[GAmes]

I pull a 13,000 lb 5er and have yet to slip the stock clutch in 4th or 5th while pulling. I did get some extreme slippage once when power shifting into 3rd (empty) with my p-stroke owning brother on board Just couldn't get all four tires to turn over on that particular road surface.

 

[The patriot]

I have the #11 sitting on the shelf in the garage, just waiting for me to get a cluch.

I also have the 370's in the truck right now.

Seems like I can put in the #11, and just not drive it crazy and all should be OK?

Eric

 

[JGK]

Eric,



Put in the plate, then put a block of wood behind your throttle peddle. Or get prepared for a new clutch soon! Mine lasted until I put on the PDR XH35.



It's hard not to use the new toys.



-Jay

 

[kchristopher]

So all of you had bunches of miles on your clutch before you put in the #11 and everything is still okay? I've got 167k on the stock clutch and was concerned that it wouldn't last long after I put in a #11 due to its age and mileage. I guess if you don't slip the clutch, it really doesn't age much.



Perhaps I will put in a #11 before I get a new clutch.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by kchristopher



Perhaps I will put in a #11 before I get a new clutch.

If you going to go ahead and replace the clutch skip the #11 and go with a #10.





That's what I'm gonna do when I save enough for a SBC. Oo.

 

[patrobertson]

My was fine

I have a 96 with 11 plate full forward and timing at 15. 5, straight exhaust and bhaf and my clutch was fine even towing a 13k fiver. I did my clutch at 180 k and I could have gone 200k no problem. I had to adjust my timing down because of a bad shop but when it was at 20 + plus degrees of timing I dynoed at 332hp and 793 tq. You will be fine with the #11 but the gages are a must, I can peg a 1500 deg, pre turbo gage, I don't do it on purpose but you have to watch out for full throttle in 4th and 5th. You can hold it for a few seconds but than it gets hot. But I still outrun most people by than. Email me with any other questions.



-- email address removed --



Shane

 

[DougL]

I have a '97 with a stock clutch and a #11 plate and had the temperature problem some of these guys are talking about untill I went with the 16cm turbo housing and the 4 inch exaust. When I did that it ran so cool that figured I could slide the plate forward, so I slid it and slipped the clutch in 5'th gear without to much problem so put the plate back in the center----no more problem.

 

[Kirwin]

TST #11 Plate

Put my TST #11 plate in stock location in June along with AFC spring kit. Took off on a trip (8k miles) with my 30 foot travel trailer (14K lbs) out west in July. When I left the truck had 42K miles on the stock clutch. Somewhere in Wyoming it slipped for the first time in 5th at 1950 RPM when the cruise opened her up pretty good for a short but steep hill. Since then it has gotten easier to slip it. Never has happened without the trailer behind it. Always happens on cruise as the throttle action is not as smooth as with your foot (unless your trying to slip it). Always occurs at peak torque. If you keep the RPMs over 2000 mine hasn't slipped. Gages are a must, the #11 plate in the stock location can exceed 1300 F pre turbo quite easily at high RPMs. Believe me it doesn't take very long either. Hope this helps. My SBC Con O goes in Thursday.

 

[lkuykendall]

We are planning to install the plate, in stock position, and try to take it easy on the clutch. We will watch the EGT's closely and cross our fingers that they stay under control until we can make changes to lower them. For now, we will be running empty or very lightly loaded so we will see what happens.



Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. I still check this thread daily so any other suggestions or comments are welcome.



Thanks



Len

 

[98rammer]

the 215s must be pushing out a lot more fuel than the 180s. i can only push 1180* with a ground plate that equals a #0 plate and some intake/exhaust mods.

 

[WKener]

I have the #11 full forward, housing forward, etc. Saturday I dyno'd in DFW at 313hp/666tq, and my clutch has not slipped yet. There have been a few times while loaded (~8000lbs) when I would shift into 4th pretty aggressively to maintain speed on a hill, and it would slowly ride itself out. That is about as close as it gets without actually slipping it alot. Unloaded I have had no problems, and I now have 106,000 miles on the clutch (28K miles with the #11).



As far as EGT's go, I have never really run into big problems. I have a Walker straight-through muffler, a lost cat, and the open element K&N to help out. True, I have had to back off it a few times up long grades while towing, but that is only backing off to about 60mph. Unloaded, I am not able to get over 1200* no matter what I seem to try.



It seems that every truck responds a little differently, but I think you should be just fine if you drive with common sense

Wes

 

[kchristopher]

Kirwin,



How many miles did you have on it when you did the switch?

 

[Kirwin]

# 11 TST Plate

I assume you mean when I put in my #11 TST plate. I put it and the AFC spring kit in at 41,235. I 've had the truck since it was new. EGTs are only a problem for me at high RPMs like when you find a hill that you have to down shift to fourth for (you know another PS in the way) . RPMs climb quickly as do EGTs after the shift. I was still using the stock exhaust at the time. Since then I lost my cat and installed a 4" Donaldson straight through muffler (thanks Jim Leonard). I still have the Factory 3" head pipe and the stock tailpipe. As I understand it, these are not restrictive at the power level the #11 plate provides. Although after looking inside the factory muffler I can't believe that it offers much restriction since it is just two chambers with only one baffle. I am having the new clutch installed 9/26. I am very happy with the power of the #11 plate. It is still very manageable without having to keep your eyes glued to the gages yet it really has it where it counts 2000-2200 RPM. Hope this helps. Ken Irwin