Spec Stage I vs. FRP King Cobra

criticman · Dec 19, 2004

Which setup would you guys go with, the Spec Stage 1 clutch kit or the Ford Racing King Cobra kit?

I am mostly stock...just looking for a replacement for my failing clutch that is an upgrade but won't break the bank.

Daggar · Dec 19, 2004

I've never heard a positive word about the Spec Stage 1. The King Cobra, I've heard all sorts of good things about but have never run one. I prefer the Centerforce line.

criticman · Dec 19, 2004

Yeah, did my suspension install yesterday, guy who helped had Centerforce, liked it, now has King Cobra...said he found the centerforce to be a bit stiff.

Also, what all do I need to do the replacement myself? The kit, pilot bearing, going with Steeda double hook quadrant adjuster and cable, new rear main seal, energy suspension transmission mounts and crossmember connectors...

anything else?

Daggar · Dec 19, 2004

criticman said:
Yeah, did my suspension install yesterday, guy who helped had Centerforce, liked it, now has King Cobra...said he found the centerforce to be a bit stiff.

Also, what all do I need to do the replacement myself? The kit, pilot bearing, going with Steeda double hook quadrant adjuster and cable, new rear main seal, energy suspension transmission mounts and crossmember connectors...

anything else?

You need a Ford thowout bearing. Some of the aftermarket "heavy duty" throwout bearings are crap and don't last long at all. I've always had good luck with the Ford piece. About the only other things I can think of are the clutch alignment tool, a large bottle of threadlock, and some white grease or Molley Lube for the bearing shaft. Also make sure you have a very long socket wrench extension or lots of extensions you can link together. You'll discover why when you do the job. 24 to 32 inches in total length shoudl do it.

BTW: Here's a link to another thread about clutches. V-8 only's post describes it all very well.
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?p=4828644&posted=1#post4828644

ms93gt · Dec 19, 2004

Get the spec stage 1, you won't regret it at all! I love mine!

90Notch · Dec 19, 2004

I've never heard a positive word about the Spec Stage 1. The King Cobra, I've heard all sorts of good things about but have never run one. I prefer the Centerforce line.

How can you prefer one over another when he haven't tried it? I've run a Spec Stage 1 and King Cobra. Spec blows doors over King Cobra! Spec Stage 1 has excellent pedal feel and grips much better than Cobra.

So there you go now you've heard two people say positive words about the Spec Stage 1.

Daggar · Dec 19, 2004

90Notch said:
How can you prefer one over another when he haven't tried it? I've run a Spec Stage 1 and King Cobra. Spec blows doors over King Cobra! Spec Stage 1 has excellent pedal feel and grips much better than Cobra.

So there you go now you've heard two people say positive words about the Spec Stage 1.

It's simple. Of the clutches I've tried, the Centerforce has been the best. If you READ my post then you'll see where I noted which clutches I had not tried. Unlike some folks, I'm not the sort to say that I've run this or that if I haven't. That is why I specified what I'd "heard". Not a difficult concept to understand. It's also why I sent the asker to V-8only's post because he HAS tried them. Again, not a difficult concept.

90Notch · Dec 19, 2004

"I've never heard a positive word about the Spec Stage 1. The King Cobra, I've heard all sorts of good things about but have never run one. I prefer the Centerforce line."

You haven't heard a good word about the Specs, haven't tried a King Cobra but prefer the Centerline. I take this as you've only run a Centerforce and are recommending it over two others you're basing on hear say. The post was asking which one should he use a King Cobra or Spec Stage 1 and you haven't tried either. Where as I used both and offered my opinion based on first hand experience. Seems to me I understand the concept perfect, wheres the problem?

Daggar · Dec 19, 2004

The "problem" as you put it, comes in with your assumptions. The three clutches mentioned above are not the only clutches available. If you must know, the clutches I have tried are the Ford Heavy Duty, Zoom, Ram, and DF Centerforce. Of those, the DF has been the best. Since I've not run the KC or Spec 1, I wasn't going to offer personal testimony on those clutches. Since the asker specified those clutches, I related what I'd heard and refered him (again) to a post written by someone who HAS tried them and also someone's opinion who I respect. Again, it's not a difficult concept. If you like the spec then say so. No one here stopping you. Glad your clutch worked out for you.

HISSIN50 · Dec 19, 2004

Daggar, congrats on 1K posts.

i completely understand why Daggar said what he did and dont see why there is debate occuring here. all we can do is try, read and learn - i have not used a KC or Spec. yet those two are the two i have been leaning towards when the time comes.

i had also heard some discouraging things about the organic disk on the Spec Stage 1, but now we have a person or two saying they are alright - i appreciate that. those remarks will go into my little clutch-cache upstairs. i had been leaning toward the KC (Daggar and i read and reply on many of the same threads, and i know why he said what he did, based on what we have seen people post). now i am back to middle ground with no bias. cool.

to the topic on hand. if not mentioned, a new pilot bearing would be a good idea. i like teflon rear main seals myself.

might also check the bearing retainer, fork and pivot.

good luck.

5spd GT · Dec 19, 2004

I picked the King Cobra over the Spec 1 when I made my choice...it holds my power MOST of the time...I did the "hearsay" research and chose the King Cobra because of longevity/hearsay/feel/ease on trans...and plus it is "Ford" piece...

crunchie12268 · Dec 19, 2004

I heard that the king cobra chatters alot because of the material that it is made of and also the throwout bearing makes noise. I heard that Spec clutchs grab really hard and tear apart your tranny. Centerforce is a good clutch from what ive read.

cevtv · Dec 19, 2004

90Notch said:
So there you go now you've heard two people say positive words about the Spec Stage 1.

Make that three.......I love mine. The only problem I had was the crappy plastic throw out bearing - but Spec is no longer using them, so it doesn't really matter.......

90Notch · Dec 19, 2004

"The "problem" as you put it, comes in with your assumptions."

I made no assumptions at all, the poster asked for feedback on two clutches King Cobra and Spec Stage 1. You said that you perfer a Centerforce and asked you how can you recommend this one over the two the poster was asking about when you never used either one. I do agree with you that its not a difficult concept it just seems to me that you're the one not getting it.

Going back the question that was asked in this post. The King Cobra has a very light pedal pressure and grabs like a stock clutch but I perfer the Spec over KC because it grabs much better with a real nice pedal feel. I put roughly 24,000 trouble free (clutch and trans) miles on the Spec.

5.0 Nostalgia · Dec 19, 2004

I was making the same choice a couple months ago. I researched the two clutches on Stangnet and ended up going with the King Cobra. I ended up basing this decision on the information that the Spec grabbed hard and was tougher on the transmission. I would rather wear out a clutch than blow a transmission.

Daggar · Dec 19, 2004

90Notch said:
."

I take this as you've only run a Centerforce and are recommending it over two others you're basing on hear say.

I made no assumptions at all, the poster asked for feedback on two clutches King Cobra and Spec Stage 1. You said that you perfer a Centerforce and asked you how can you recommend this one over the two the poster was asking about when you never used either one. I do agree with you that its not a difficult concept it just seems to me that you're the one not getting it.

Shall I explain to you what an assumption is now? Once again... There's no misguidance in my post. I have not tried either of those two clutches and I said so. I also stated that I'd based what I'd said on the feedback of others. I then directed him to a post written by someone who has. It's all very simple but you choose to try and make an issue of it (for some reason). Tell me again who doesn't "get it".

If you didn't like what I had to say then post your own opinion and move on. Also a simple concept.

UnderPressureGT · Dec 19, 2004

heres my experience with SPEC....

My stage one lasted about 2.5 weeks.... i took the car to the track and the whole inside went in smoke and i smelt burning clutch........ When i took it off, im not sure what part it is.. disk or pressure plate (the thin smaller one) had a huge crack in it.... bye bye stage 1... HELLLLOOOOO stage 3!!... this new clutch totally kicks ass.. grabs real hard and has a nice pedal feel.. i love it and its holding up great

5spd GT · Dec 19, 2004

crunchie12268 said:
I heard that the king cobra chatters alot because of the material that it is made of and also the throwout bearing makes noise. I heard that Spec clutchs grab really hard and tear apart your tranny. Centerforce is a good clutch from what ive read.

Mine doesn't chatter (once I got my adjustment right - new OEM cable $40 - Steeda Double Hook Quadrant and UPR firewall adjuster)...and my throwout bearing doesn't make any noise...

My cousins 90 Gt had a Centerforce Dual Friction I sold him for cheap and it had a softer pedal than my King Cobra does...but my cousin's trans is now out of the car (tore it up)...and he sold it...I attribute it to his driving habits and the clutch hitting the old tranny to hard...but I liked the feel of it...

iwashmycar · Dec 19, 2004

I have a KC in now, and it doesn't make much noise. It is a nice stiff clutch though. When I bought the car the previous owner had let the cable start to fail, and that in conjunction with that clutch, broke my firewall in about 3 places.....You just need a strong leg....lol

v8only · Dec 20, 2004

This thread sucks can't we all get along??

Diff clutches for diff uses. FYI, the spec has tons and tons of good reviews, but I wouldn't trust the stage one if you paid me. Its a truly lousy organic clutch with tons of chatter, nearly gauranteed. If you go spec, go stage two.

I'm not gonna go into too much details, but the original poster mentioned he was nearly all stock. No reason at all for a spec or centerforce (which is my favorite clutch, the centerforces are LIGHT and grab great, but $$$$$)

FYI, you won't have chatter issues with the king cobra. Sure it could happen, but it's not common like the spec stage one. I don't suggest this dude spend tons of money on a stage two or centerforce, only because he doesn't need it, and the $150-$200 premium he's gonna pay for it can be spent elsewhere. The only thing that spec is gonna do is eat up his t5. No reason in HELL he needs that kind of earth shattering shifting power for a near stock setup

Spec Stage I vs. FRP King Cobra

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