Picking new clutch for ~450 RWHP. Suggestions?

281pony · Feb 2, 2011

i am picking up a tremec 3550 tomorrow. i currently have a king cobra clutch behind my WC T-5. it's rated at 315 hp, i'm making 440 rwhp in bad air.

i figure while i'm in there, i want to get a new clutch here ASAP. i've done some reading on spec clutches, seem to hold power well, but not a good "driver" clutch.

i do alot of city driving, i will be racing. spec holds power but is on/off and chatters. centerforce seem to fail under power?

what is a good clutch that will last and drives decent? i want to next day air one tomorrow so i can put this in over the weekend.

FastDriver · Feb 2, 2011

My spec 3+ is fine at over 700rwhp and nearly 700 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels.

Clutches are actually rated at torque levels, not hp.

I personally never had a problem with the Spec 3 or the King Cobra clutch in my old 420rwhp combo, which made over 500 ft-lbs of torque. If the KC is working for you, and you like the way it drives, then don't fix what ain't broke. If not, the only other clutch I have experience with is the Spec series. Don't believe the talk about their lack of drivability, though. They require a little more "touch," but if you know how to be easy through the sweet spot, you'll be fine, it's definitely not on/off.

Good luck.

281pony · Feb 3, 2011

i'm reading alot of stuff and trying to cut through the bs. i haven't researched a clutch for years in these cars.

here is a general feedback of what i'm reading;

spec clutches grip great. pedal is firm, really touchy and chattering is the most common with this brand.

king cobra. works good for some, common failures at the track with my power levels or +/- 50. i have this now, it had 80 passes last year with street tires and 150 less rwhp. so i think i just want to replace it.

centerforce clutches are being praised the most. lightest pedal feel, best driveability feel, downfall is their life from what i've seen. seems most guys are getting like a year or two tops out of these. the dual friction one.

i was eyeballing the spec 2 clutch kit probably the strongest. it comes complete and has good feedback on grip ability. my legs are up to the task of them i think.. i just don't want to deal with any chatter.

S&B · Feb 3, 2011

I have had 2 diff spec clutches and they did not work to my liking at all for street driving. Actually paid to have them replaced. they both chattered like hell and were installed by professionals.

I love my Mcleod twin disk pedal effort is 0 and it slips nice and grips nice.

everyone else always seems to like the centerforce clutch, thats what i would go with If I were you.

Look for a used Mcleod twin disc thats how I got mine for 300 bux with flywheel. orderd 2 new discs and shim kit and badda bing

FastDriver · Feb 3, 2011

macleod twin is probably my next clutch if I go to the badass TR6060 setup that I've dreamt about in the future. They're expensive, though. They're also overkill as they can handle something like 1200hp.

I guess opinions on the Specs vary. I've had 3 of them, now. I replaced the flywheel two of the times with mine and was careful on break-in. I'm not experiencing the chatter. I did have a little chatter with my KC, but it wasn't big enough to bother anyone about.

Anyway, pedal effort was a serious problem at one point. However, I swapped the cable back to OEM, got a firewall clutch cable adjuster, and put on the triple fork clutch quadrant. Pedal was impossibly firm before the swap. Now, it's comfortable.

281pony · Feb 4, 2011

picked up a tremec last night with everything but a clutch for a good price.

friend is selling me his spec twin disk setup for an even better deal tomorrow should be good to go on the drivetrain after this.

SMOKEDYA · Feb 4, 2011

My spec II is good!The pedal is a little hard but for the most part happy and holding thus far!peace

john

281pony · Feb 4, 2011

this is the description of my clutch, im stoked.. should be the best of both worlds i was after.

Product Description
The Super Twin is for street and track use in cars with extreme horsepower and torque (700-1500 ft lbs tq). The Super Twin offers near-stock drivability, tremendous life expectancy, a no shimming/setup bolt-in installation and maintenance free operation. With all billet construction, these units are smooth and quiet. The units are rebuild-able by SPEC or the end user and replacement components or rebuild services are always available. The super twin is constructed with aircraft grade aluminum and high carbon billet steel milled to an industry leading .001 inch for perfect balance and actuation. Friction is provided by dampened, full-faced carbon graphite discs. Organic, fiber and full metallic options are available. Flywheel and track-spec hardware are included in each kit. Types of driving: street, drag, drift, road racing, time attack, pulling and rallye.

Types of Driving
ALL

7upstang91 · Feb 5, 2011

FastDriver said:
macleod twin is probably my next clutch if I go to the badass TR6060 setup that I've dreamt about in the future. They're expensive, though. They're also overkill as they can handle something like 1200hp.

I guess opinions on the Specs vary. I've had 3 of them, now. I replaced the flywheel two of the times with mine and was careful on break-in. I'm not experiencing the chatter. I did have a little chatter with my KC, but it wasn't big enough to bother anyone about.

Anyway, pedal effort was a serious problem at one point. However, I swapped the cable back to OEM, got a firewall clutch cable adjuster, and put on the triple fork clutch quadrant. Pedal was impossibly firm before the swap. Now, it's comfortable.

This from Ford Racing and you will be a happy camper. I swear by it.

Picking new clutch for ~450 RWHP. Suggestions?

281pony

Active Member

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

281pony

Active Member

S&B

I hate my CT. :(

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

281pony

Active Member

SMOKEDYA

281pony

Active Member

7upstang91

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Picking new clutch for ~450 RWHP. Suggestions?

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