What is the best clutch for my truck?

[Bigstick]

Ok I see a lot of you are running the South Bend, I was wanting some various opinions of all the clutches McCLeod, TST, etc. . Look at my signature to see what mods I have. Lsat week I put in the 275 injectors and now I have slippage in 5th and 6th and some of fourth gears. ARGH!! I thought it was supposed to hold up. Oh well any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Idaho Native]

BigStick,



Gotta put in a pitch for SouthBend! I just put in a Con OFE 13-1. 25 (see sig for upgrades). You can't go wrong with them, IMHO.



Peter is absolutely great to work with. He can answer all of your questions... has a questionaire on the SouthBend web site for you to input your "desires" as to what you plan to do with the truck. Then he matches it with the proper equipment.



Loren

 

[HeberRam]

South Bend!!!!!

Idaho is right..... There is no better after market clutch out there in my opinion then South Bends..... If "sparky" and me running 674 HP sled pulling can't wreck it , you can't go wrong with South Bend Clutches...



Steve

 

[rspinks]

TST, Mclead?

I'd also like to hear more feedback on the other options. Nothing negative towards SBC intended at all, but if you don't feel the need for a lighter pedal can't you save some money by just going with a better disc and the stock pressure plate?



RS

 

[KWIKKURT]

"Sparky" ?????? HEBERAM What are you trying to say ???



SouthBend #1

 

[Reb.B]

i have a center force dual friction and i have no complaints. Easy pedal and no shake at all. I think it can handle the torque right now, but i am thinking of switching to the south bend when i install the juice. it depends on the horsepower and weight u're going to pull. my truck will pull 26,000 # no problem, but i don't dare turn the comp box on, i'm sure it would kill the clutch then.

 

[Bigstick]

Where is the best deal on a South Bend Con FE?

 

[Bigsaint]

I have a McLeod Dual Disk Street and have zero complaints. Not flaming all the clutches that are out there now, but when I wanted a clutch for the ETH back in Dec. 2000 there weren't as many options. I knew the McLeod would hold, from Nowel's testing and after speaking with the Auto Wurks guys as well, I was convinced at the time it was the clutch for me. I don't sled pull nor race at the strip, I just wanted a clutch that would hold the power on the street with intermitent WOT runs for fun.



If you are doing the job yourself, make sure you know what you are doing or get someone who does to help. If you are going to have a shop do the install, do your homework and choose the installer wisely. When I first started researching which clutch to pick, I spoke with a few shops that never even heard of the McLeod . Others told me the clutch has issues, such as difficulty to find either 1st or reverse and that it would never last past 15,000 miles. Some also stated that the clutch pedal would be very stiff. None of the above is true with my clutch, works well for a daily driver.



Scott W.

 

[Briar Hopper]

South Bend Clutch. It's the best all around work-or-play clutch. Not designed or made for sled pulls, although we've seen them survive even that... .

Enterprise Engine's Mitchell clutch or Van Haisley's pulling clutch hold up well to the sled pulls with the extreme horsepower crowd. For everybody else, there's South Bend Clutch, don't leave home without it.

 

[Sled Puller]

Re: South Bend!!!!!

Originally posted by HeberRam

Idaho is right..... There is no better after market clutch out there in my opinion then South Bends..... If "sparky" and me running 674 HP sled pulling can't wreck it , you can't go wrong with South Bend Clutches...



Steve

Well, they you go boys!!!

SBC is now safe for sled pulling!!!!



Lets rock!!!!!!



(Stop watch on to see how fast Peter gets out here, tick,tick,tick!)



This forum is living proof SBC's do what they are supposed to, but you guys are misleading people claiming they will hold up to sled pulling.

Keep in mind my CF made 5 pulls, and still was living. But definate put the hurts to it.



Maybe someone should explain the term: "SPARKY".



Gene



I have visions of everybody who bought ANY SBC running to the track.

 

[Turbo Thom]

On the con o fe, it does not like to be slipped. It will chatter bad if you try. I like mine but you just have to get used to it. When I back up my fiver, you cannot always have the clutch totally engauged . When your idle speed is 850 with the clutch enguauged , backing a fiver, that is a pretty good speed. Better have it lined up. Now putten the power to it, , do it. The clutch don't care. It's just certain applications should be looked at.



As they say, get the clutch for you needs.



. . Preston. .

 

[Forrest]

My dual disc is holding fine with > 400hp. Stock pedal pressure. Some say it's noisy, but not mine, can't hear it. No problems towing.

 

[J@NWC]

I know the South Bend was not designed for sled pulling! But if it will hold up to doing it(NOT recomended by Peter ) to me that means in a street aplication or just towing it should last forever . I'm running a little short on HP (476. 5 at DD) (torque at BD 1100lbs) but I'm going to muster up some more some where . My truck has 150,000 miles on it and is a daily driver. Therefore the clutch has to have relitively good pedal pressure and smooth engaugement. Any sled pulling, Dyno events, or drag racing are secondary activitys done just for fun! So a pulling or heavy pedaled overly agressive clutch just has no place here. We tried the center force a while back with limited miles (and less HP at the time and never been sled pulling) the center broke out you could still read the writing on the clutch surface Centerforce denied and warranty:{ They claimed lifetime warranty I tried one other clutch between then and when I met Peter. Since I met peter I have had 2 southbend's. The first was a great clutch but we finally found enough Hp and Torque(Piers is the manOo. ) that in certain times (towing and trying to race at the same time) I talked with Peter He instantly(even knowing I far exceded the HP rating for that clutch) sent me a replacement never even batting an eye, asked if the one was going to leave me stranded, offered to next day air the new one if needed. THAT'S customer service!!

That's not the end of the story I was too busy to swap clutches so I continued to abuse that clutch for 4 more months before changing it It still preformed flawlessly Just would'nt take max HP or torque with trailer in tow(keep in mind waaaay over the max rating for this clutch). With the new one installed we're off to the races It's been on Dynos, pulled trailers, drag raced and sled pulled works flawlessly Two thumbs up SBC!!!



"Sparky" Kwikkurt's new handle for those who did'nt see the pulls in pahrump, comes from his second pull when he tried 8 or 10 gears too high and tried to make up for it with the clutch. By the end of his run he had the fireworks show under the truck from that little gap in the bell housing did'nt knoe you could get sooo many sparks out of such a little hole (if any one has a picture and can post it that will explain it all. ) after that he pulled again and the ran at the drags the next day all on a clutch that we did'nt think would get him off the track after the fireworks!!

Keep in mind this clutch is not intended to be a sled pulling clutch nor is it sold to be one but with a few of us that can't resist trying this sport it let's you know how tough these clutches really are!!



Jason