I'm thinking ahead.

Due to past experience on a previous car that used nitrous, I'll need a clutch in the next 6 months. My last car ran a 75shot (an import) and the clutch (stock) lasted 3 months. I replaced it with a Clutchmasters Stage 3 and that POS lasted 3 months on a turbo...

Whats everyone doing these days??

I prefer ACT but they appear to have nothing, even thought they said they would have something when I called them and volunteered to let them use my car to make one.

The best clutch I ever had was a 6 puck unsprung disc with an Xtreme pressure plate...

It was pretty grippy and almost on/off but it was manageable.

Centerforce?
King Cobra?
ACT?

Flywheel will probably be replaced at the same time....

Suggestions?

Best place to get one?


thanks
jake

 

Hey Jake- Merry Christmas man!

I don't mean to always jump in and act like I have the answers to all your questions, but I've been researching clutches for a longtime now. Here are the two most common suggestions that I've found:

Option 1) Go with the "revised" Centerforce offering. Seems they had an earlier version that even after installed as best as could be, it wouldn't let you powershift. They have a newer version out that I don't think is identified as the newer version, but it is physically different so you'll know by looking at it. I can dig up my info on it if you get serious. This is the only aftermarket unit that I've heard of that everyone is happy with. Contact JPC if you want to go this route.


Option 2) After your stock clutch burns up, replace it with........... another stock clutch. I've had many people tell me that the stock clutches actually hold up pretty well under loads of power. I think you'll be surprised how long your stocker will last you even with the occasional trip to the track and the appropriate powershifting. I also know that Brenspeed will tell you the same thing- replacing the stocker with another stocker when necessary is a good move. They sell Spec clutches and they have one installed in one of their shop cars, and Brent has told me that he wishes he would've just reinstalled a stocker instead of the Spec piece. That says something when a guy sells a $600 clutch/flywheel combo but recommends the Ford piece.

Hope this helps you man.

Tom

 

Funny that this thread came up, my clutch just start slipping yesterday. It's still got some life left in it, though. It only slips for a second or so when powershifting into third, and is very smooth and predictable. But anyway, after 18K miles NA and a thousand miles on the KB, it's time to get something else.

I personally don't feel comfortable putting a stock unit back in. Simply because this one failed after only a thousand miles and a few dozen hard shifts on the S/C. Maybe it was it's time to go, maybe it would have failed at the same time even without the extra 150hp, maybe a new stock clutch would work perfectly for another 20K+ miles, but I've got this weird disease called "Moditis" and I just can't seem to keep anything stock.

So, I'm going to get the Spec Stage 3+ (800hp) and Fidanza AL Flywheel and a new OEM slave cyinder/throwout bearing . I've heard the Spec 3+ is very ON/OFF, but I'm going to try to live with it. With the AL flywheel, I'll knock off 12 pounds of rotational mass, big whoop! (See part above about the need to upgrade). The one thing I would suggest is getting a new slave cylinder, which is only offered by Ford at this time (no aftermarket availalbe as far as I know). This is an integral hydraulic slave cylinder/throwout bearing, and I've heard it would be wise to replace it when changing out the clutch. My local stealership is selling them for $174, but I know where to get them for $41, so that's cheap insurance for preventing another $300+ in labor if that little sucker decided to pop a leak.

And popping a seal they do, especially with the added pressure of an upgraded pressure plate. Seems Ford didn't engineer this part to handle much more than the stock pressure plate and springs, and nobody else has yet either.

I'm almost dreading chaning the clutch, I've hear horror stories from didn't work, to went out again in a few months, to wouldn't disengage, to wouldn't allow WOT, to had no problems at all. At least by putting the stock back in, I would only have to worry about it start to slip sooner than expected. Then agian, I've also read about stock clutch springs failing causing the clutch to explode, as wheel as the stock flywheel bolts being only finger tight upon removal, so I guess nothing is for sure.

But, 94tbird and lots of the Cobra guys are pretty happy with a Spec Stage 3+, so I'm going to give that a shot. I'll get it in a week or two and I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

 

Good luck with the Spec- be SURE to break it in properly for the first couple hundred miles.

 

Thats ok Tom... if you got the answers then you got hte answers.. hhaahahahahahah I don't mind if hte same person chimes in all the time.

I usually do a search, read as many as I can and then look in the catalog from summit etc.... and then go ask people.

so far step one was less than revealing and step two showed lots of older mustang clutches but almost nothing for our year..

I'll take all the info I can get, but dont be surprised if i start pm'ing you and you alone for all my performance needs....hhahahahahhah

 

Yes, good point. I've heard break in is the key, though I think 94TBIRD got on his right away with no problems, or at least he had a REALLY cool burnout video on his install thread.

Some more good feedback on the Spec:

Originally Posted by Black3V
ok I see nobody has mentioned Spec. When replacing the clutch and flywheel with theirs then there is no shims needed. I have been running the stg3+ with aluminum flywheel for about 9 months with very nice street manners and great holding power. I have not exactly been easy on it either with consistent low 1.6 60 ft's at the track.

 

so far I've found in the last few hours... that ACT finally has a catalog with their clutch for our year in it. Centerforce dual friction people seem to like a lot and Spec (never heard of spec before).