C-30 Clutch Confusion

[Richard2112]

I have recently removed my sm465 and am preparing to install a recently rebuilt nv4500 on a very restricted budget. Naturally I want to put the best Centerforce/Lakewood/Hays clutch kit but right now my options are restricted to what I can afford across the board, as in the entire truck rebuild.

I know I will have to have my flywheel ground, replace the mounting bolts, pilot bushing, T/O bearing and disk.

The market offers a replacement kit (Duralast/Autozone) for about $150 for T/O bearing, pressure plate and pilot although the pressure plate is a diaphragm type.

The pressure plate I removed is a Borg Beck, three finger, 12 spring and the disk is a 12 inch (rounding up).

I never had a problem with this combination and I like the idea of 12 springs in the pressure plate so I'm a bit gun shy about replacing it with a diaphram type.

Right now my option to keep this project moving forward is to install the kit offed by autozone, or use the old pressure plate. I know it's good practice to replace both disk and plate as a set but is it completely necessary?

I like the Borg Beck (maybe my inexperience talking here) pressure plate and I am thinking that there was once a way to rebuild them, replace springs and fingers, however that practice seems to have fallen away with time. Perhaps I am wrong about that but a search yields nothing on the subject.

I am thinking about using the set up from Autozone as a temporary fix until such time that I can afford what I want or if possible, until I can rebuild my pressure plate.

Since this is a C30 truck, I am hesitant to use weak parts and am happy to refurbish older parts that have worked well for me.

This is the kit I am sort of relegated to using temporarily, provided it will actually work:

http://www.autozone.com/drivetrain/c...42_121841_6061

I know that I have to check the stack height and ensure the T/O bearing is appropriate and I have purchased a sintered bronze pilot bushing from National.

My questions are this:

Is it possible to rebuild the Borg Beck unit? If so, where can I find information on this?

Also, would it be reasonable to reuse the pressure plate, provided it was in fair condition and how does one check it? The contact surface is not scored though there are some dark (not blue) spots on it and it seems smooth. None of the springs are loose or broken. I never had a problem with the clutch but the disk is worn to the point that there is almost contact with the rivets, not quite but close.

Sorry about all the questions but just can't afford the best right now. Any advice would be much appreciated.