Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Yet another torque plate question... but with a poll!

[Got Smoke?]

Ok you know how it goes ask 50 people a question with 2 possible answers and you'll get 25 of one answer and 25 of the other.





Ok I bought my truck a year ago this Monday. It had 123,XXX miles on it when I got it, and now it has 142,7XX miles on it.



The only modifications I have done to the motor itself are straightpipe, and removed the torque plate rack stop in the AFC housing. Which might be going back in because I'm tired of having to baby the throttle off of a dead stop just so I don't dump a cloud of smoke.



Any how I've been told a several times that sliding my factory plate forward will not slip my clutch. However, I have also been told that it will indeed slip my clutch



I supposedly still have the factory clutch according to the previous owner, at least he can't remember putting one in (used to be his son's truck before got it). The current clutch is holding fine too. Pulls medium loads (I don't tow heavy) just fine without a problem. Put it in first gear and give it a little pedal as you ease up on the clutch and it'll almost buck you into the steering wheel.



I'm not looking to put a SBC in yet since I don't have the $. So I'm looking for advice one last time before I start experimenting.



So please vote in the poll, and post any comments you might have.

 

[illflem]

don't mess with it, buy a real plate and run it in the stock position

 

[Todd G]

I too am cheap. I've had a Banks plate full forward and the AFC housing full forward for 30,000 miles, the last 20k with 370's. So far no slip. I must have one strong stock clutch.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by illflem

don't mess with it, buy a real plate and run it in the stock position

If I buy a plate it will be a #10 and that WILL toast my clutch. The reason I was asking this was to see if I could do it with the clutch I have now.



Sorry I'm not meaning to be smart.

 

['956Wheel]

I agree with Bill. If any "plate sliding" is done it should be to fine tune, but its your truck so you go and slide it all the way forward and post with your broken heart/truck tale. When you can blow away a Mustang (stock) with an 8 plate, thats good enough for me! Over 7000 lbs and enough poop to push you in your seat... more than I need.



Mike

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by '956Wheel

I agree with Bill. If any "plate sliding" is done it should be to fine tune, but its your truck so you go and slide it all the way forward and post with your broken heart/truck tale. When you can blow away a Mustang (stock) with an 8 plate, thats good enough for me! Over 7000 lbs and enough poop to push you in your seat... more than I need.



Mike

Bill I'm sorry if I came across as a smart aleck. This whole post was basically 3 questions,

Should I slide it full forward,

How far if I shouldn't go full forward,

or just leave it alone.



I was just looking to see if I get a little boost in power for the time being without having to scarifice clutch life. I honestly plan on buying a #10 plate in the future, but I don't want to do so until I have a clutch I know can take it. Seeing as I don't have 6 bills for a new SBC I will have to wait.



I'm still trying to learn here, so please be patient with me.

I've decided I'm just going to leave the factory plate where its at, but my rack stop is going back in.

 

[nfox]

camplate

My stock plate has been ground and slid full forward with 370 injectors and the stock clutch does not mind it at all. The truck has 121,000 miles on it and no problems so far!!

 

[illflem]

got smoke?, no problem. The reason I don't recommend sliding the plate is that you can get into high egt trouble much easier than with a TST plate. Your cheap power increase can turn into more expendsive problems than a clutch.

 

[BWilson]

I put a #10 plate in my truck with a stock clutch, in the stock position at 180K miles. If you really got into it, you would slip the clutch, but not everyday driving or towing. I ended up changing the clutch when my fifth gear nut slid off and needed to be fixed (as long as I was that close, I might as well!). Anyway, that was at 290K miles on the stock clutch. Put the plate in and drive carefully until you can talk yourself into a new clutch

 

[Swamp Donkey]

One of the wise men on the TDR told me that it is best to leave the plate in the stock position. They are deigned to run the best in the stock position, not full forward. He said if you want more power it is better to get a bigger plate than to slide the smaller one ahead. Needless to say my #6 is full forward. But I do have a # 10 to install in the next couple of days. Will go with aprox the stock position... ... ... If I knew what that was!

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by Swamp Donkey

But I do have a # 10 to install in the next couple of days. Will go with aprox the stock position... ... ... If I knew what that was!

I couldn't swindle you out of that # 10 could I swamp donkey?

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Swamp Donkey

Will go with aprox the stock position... ... ... If I knew what that was!

Best to use a straight edge and scribe to mark a permanent line even with the front of the plate on the housing before you change anything. If you don't know where the stock position is sometimes you can find it by reinstalling the stock plate at the screw marks.

 

[Cummnzpowr]

plate this..plate that, blah blah

i don't care what anyone had said about more power in stock position... i've drag strip tested all possible positions of the stock,#5,and a flat plate... the most power and best times {for MY truck} have been ALL THE WAY FORWARD BABY!:-{}

 

[illflem]

Yeah, but you're only driving it a quarter mile on flat ground...

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Re: plate this..plate that, blah blah

Originally posted by Cummnzpowr

i don't care what anyone had said about more power in stock position... i've drag strip tested all possible positions of the stock,#5,and a flat plate... the most power and best times {for MY truck} have been ALL THE WAY FORWARD BABY!:-{}

Yes... . everyone knows they will make more power slid forward. All I was trying to say is that they are designed for the stock position.



*disclaimer* I am not a plate expert, just repeating something I have been told.

 

[nfox]

camplate

Swamp Donkeyy isn't that #10 plate for a 5-speed pump? Shouldn't you switch from a #6 to a #4 for more power with the automatic pump? Just curious?

 

[Swamp Donkey]

nfox... ... ...





Good eye on the plate. Yes the #10 is for a 5 speed pump. Piers told me to try that plate out. He said it will give me alot more bottom end power and also works well in the upper rpm's with the governor spring kit, 370's etc. I called him up and asked for something with a little more zing to it. I was thinking along the lines of the #4 or #0 as well, but he said I would like this one. The #10 is rated for 230 hp and my # 6 is rated for 250hp.





I just put the # 10 in a couple of hours ago. I only drove it for about 5 miles, but I can now lay rubber and have smoke rolling off my rear tires!! Maybe Piers is on to something... ... ... More testing to follow.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by Swamp Donkey

nfox... ... ...





Good eye on the plate. Yes the #10 is for a 5 speed pump. Piers told me to try that plate out. He said it will give me alot more bottom end power and also works well in the upper rpm's with the governor spring kit, 370's etc. I called him up and asked for something with a little more zing to it. I was thinking along the lines of the #4 or #0 as well, but he said I would like this one. The #10 is rated for 230 hp and my # 6 is rated for 250hp.





I just put the # 10 in a couple of hours ago. I only drove it for about 5 miles, but I can now lay rubber and have smoke rolling off my rear tires!! Maybe Piers is on to something... ... ... More testing to follow.

There went my chance's of getting that plate!:{ :-laf

 

[drawson]

Up in Calgary Piers showed a bunch of us what happens when all you do is slide the plate forward. Get hold of the master Piers and he'll enlighten you, as he did us.



At one point in my bombing I was running my #11 slid all the way forward and had some funny surges from doing that. I didn't figure this out what was causing this surge until(I got old enough) and installed my #0 and adjusted it to full rack travel.



If you want more HP spend the money on the plate that is in the HP relm that you are looking for.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Ok, you all can rest assured I've decided to just wait until I can afford to put a clutch in. Then I'll install a # 10. 330/750 sounds nice!