ZOOM Variable Torque (ZVT) clutch for Dodge

[PHeadings]

New clutch coming out with Variable Torque, up to an extra 850 foot pounds depending on the material. It was introduced on Two Guy's Garage last weekend.

 

[Hercules130]

Did they say if it was for the G56 or NV5600?

 

[CATCRACKER]

yea it said 850ftlbs by a certain number of rpms (2600maybe) not enought the 3rd gens are making wicked tq numbers at 1200rpms. daul disk with the 3rd gens is the way to go for high hp. even the fabled sbfe is having trouble with modded 3rd gens

 

[JCleary]

Did they say if it was for the G56 or NV5600?

AFAIK it was for the 5600. I was going to get one, but they were not available when I got my clutch installed. They should be available for our trucks now. It has something like a 4200lb plate load at 3000rpm. Don't know what it is at 1500, though.



I'm happy with my SBC DD.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

yea it said 850ftlbs by a certain number of rpms (2600maybe) not enought the 3rd gens are making wicked tq numbers at 1200rpms. daul disk with the 3rd gens is the way to go for high hp. even the fabled sbfe is having trouble with modded 3rd gens

You are correct!! This is why we are now having pressure plates made to increase our plate loads without the need for RPM to 3400 lbs. Stock is 2850.

This should give us quite a bit more holding power at the lower RPM high torque points. This clutch by Zoom is using the centrifugal theory needing RPM similar to Centerforce. I wish them luck. You guys produce a lot of torque at very low RPM's



Peter

 

[mattymac]

Peters right, I had a friend who put in a centerforce clutch and it lasted about as long as the stocker! Not enough clamping force at low RPM's. He now has a dual disc.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Days away from ordering a SBC

*EDIT* ha. . it took a while to post this. things are mostly answered.





So peter, 3400# is enough for your average 3g now?

 

[betterthanstock]

It has something like a 4200lb plate load at 3000rpm.

And how much pedal pressure would it take to disengage at 3000 rpm? You will be fighting the inertia weights with your foot. All this does is make for a soft pedal (and risk of slippage) at low rpm, and very high effort at high rpm.

In fact the extra clamping force supplied by the weights would be 16 times greater at 3000 rpm than at idle. :--)

 

[South Bend Clutch]

That is as far as we believe we should go with a single disc. It will definitely offer much more holding power but until we get it in a truck and on a dyno and used on the street, under loads I will not be able to give it any "IRON CLAD #'s. " This is the dangerous part about clutches that so many company's do. Offer torque specs on their clutches before they have been tested in the real world. You can use all the mathematics and clutch dyno machines you want but until you actually put it in a truck that weighs 8000lbs. with a 12000 lb trailer behind it and crank up the HP, you are only guessing. We made this mistake with our first DD clutches. On paper they should have performed flawlessly... real world... we had a lot of work to do to get them where they are now.



The reason I stated that this is all we want to put through a single disc is because I don't believe the spring center of the disc will be able to handle 1400+ ft lb of torque.



Peter

 

[JasonCzerak]

I just called zoom

Ok take this for what it's worth:



3rd gen 600's (13" clutch). will be avaiable in 30 days. They are waiting on pressure plates at production. This is the reason for the delay.



They were at the Tenn. TDR meet a few months ago. Anyone there see these guys? They gave a way a 5 speed clutch.



Specs (at the wheels as far as I understood):



organic 700foot# (at 3000rpm)

ceramic (pucks) 1500 foot# (at 3000rpm). it's 1250foot# at 1400rpm



The variable pressure plate starts at about 2800# and can add as much at 800# more presure as the RPM's increase.



All these torque nubers are ~ 20% under what they have for a failure. So In theory, you could hold 1800foot# on the ceramic.



Part costs:

New flywheel $120 (extra cost if needed)

organic ~ $900

ceramic ~ $1000



Again, this clutch for the 3rg gen 6 speed is about 30 days away from shipping.



This is very cost competative with SBC.



Anyone have this clutch in their truck? more importatnly the ceramic version (5 speeds)? They say it's a littel grabby, but works well with the variable deal being light pressure at low RPM.



On a more personal note: I got the feeling of 2 kinda fast talking sales guys that were slow to answer some techy kinda questions. This is a new product and I fully 110% agree with Peter that it needs to be proven in the real world. I would need to see some proven numbers before I buy and some good feed back on this site about it. Expecically on the faramic clutch.



Maybe these guys should do a tour of the states and let use test drive their trucks?

 

[GCroyle]

The ZVT system is new and was introduced at SEMA last year. We have 5 speed applications in stock now and the NV5600 6 speed is due in very soon. I took the truck to the MID TN Meeting last weekend and the route took us through the Great Smokie Mountains, Asheville, NC. Yes, we gave away a 5 speed ZVT #1192 and a matching (new) flywheel. The gang at Mid TN did a great job, over 100 trucks. The rig weighed in at 22,320 Lbs, it has a 2005 Mustang GT show car in it, the truck is a 1997 3500 with a Banks Power Pack, (I installed it) it dyno'd at 793. 7Lb/ft, 277. 4 Hp. The pedal effort is stock at all RPM ranges. We have installed them in test rigs, 2nd Gen, 6 speed and 5 speed, and yes, the Ford 7. 3L. I had no problems pulling our rig all the way to Dallas and back, it took any grade in stride, (give credit to Cummins) no slipping, and it had the organic disc in it. 1st gear and reverse starts were smooth. We are advertising in TDR.



Gary

TDR Member, CTD owner, Product Mgr, Perfection Clutch

 

[jwilliams3]

How is your warranty and are the clutches rated for racing?

 

[South Bend Clutch]

I hate to be the first one to say this but a stock clutch does fine at the HP #'s you posted on the dyno sheet.



Peter

 

[JasonCzerak]

Peter, I'm assuming that's what they'll typicaly hold at 58mph, or what ever speed they 'tow' at.



Hardly 105mph at 3200rpm. That HP number should be over 400hp at 3000rpm with that much torque ya think?

 

[JasonCzerak]

I spoke with Greg of Zoom (project manager) on the way home from work today. He provied me with alot of information about this product.



Greg, please update this thread with much of that info. I think alot of people would love to know.



If you can update your website with some pricing information as well would be cool.

 

[GCroyle]

Several good questions were asked about the new ZVT, first all clutches are sized and configured to transmit torque, horsepower adds the element of rotation, and torque plus rotation equals work being done, horsepower. We have a torque calculation formula on our website www.zoomclutch.com in “calculation”. This is the same basic formula that the industry has used and can be found in the SAE Manual Transmission Clutch Systems handbook. Our disc is a commercial truck disc with 8 cryogenically treated double damper springs. The ZVT lever cartridge contact is positioned directly over the top of the casting to apply the increase in clampload. If anyone would like to call our office we welcome your inquiry at 800-258-8312 press 4 for tech support, 8-5 EST.



Gary

 

[AndyMan]

I was at the Mid-Tenn TDR meeting in January, and drove the Zoom Dually. Smoothest engage and dis-engage I've ever felt. I can most closely liken it to my honda accord 5 spd as far as manners and driveability.



FWIW, I'll most likely be putting a stage 2 ZVT on in my truck soon. So I'm at least one person who'll have data to report. I know I've got a 12v, and most 3rd gen drivers think that's inferior, but torque is torque, and I've got plenty of it.

 

[mberry]

I for one am glad to see all of the choices available to me and the information presented here. I will need a new clutch soon so having to make an informed decision is much easier to me. Thank you Andy. I look forward to your report.

 

[BRayls]

I was at the Mid-Tenn TDR meeting in January, and drove the Zoom Dually. Smoothest engage and dis-engage I've ever felt. I can most closely liken it to my honda accord 5 spd as far as manners and driveability.



FWIW, I'll most likely be putting a stage 2 ZVT on in my truck soon. So I'm at least one person who'll have data to report. I know I've got a 12v, and most 3rd gen drivers think that's inferior, but torque is torque, and I've got plenty of it.

I posted on this clutch back some time ago. got to talking Gary C from there. well needless to say there is now a zoom clutch here for my truck(stage 2). I have talked with Mark down at TST and I am going to be taking the truck down there for a run on the dyno. only question for the you guys, what turbo to run. I only have the means to put a single on it and have my choice between the 62/12, 66/12, or with the 14 exhaust. what do you think will spool the fastest and stay cool enough to tax the clutch? I will let the product speak for itself. I hope to have the unit in by monday. info to follow. I will post the dyno info when its done. I think we all have been waiting for an affordable clutch to hold the power. this is a single that is claimed to hold what DD is known for. that is big savings. bigger bonus no noise and less pedal pressure.

 

[jwilliams3]

Get a 66/14 or 64/14.