Clutch Education

[Lx3]

I would like some ideas, thoughts, comments on clutch choice.

I have run autos so long I don't have a clue where to start. My
setup is strange, just because. It's a 69 long fleet a/c. I'm doing
a 2-4 drop, just spindles in front but in back I'm setting bags for
tooling around AND brackets for coilovers so I can morph quick.
I haven't weighed it but I figure around 4500 or so wet. I weigh
275. I know how,and will set f/r bias and i/c.

OK, let's get weird. Three on the tree stay's. Rear and gears will
probably be 9-inch and ratio set so I can live with it on the street
and still get out of the hole. This is gonna' take some thought and
compromise I know. Maybe an O.D. unit ? Motor is 357 Little "M"
4340 crank, Lunati rods, a real nice [worked on] set of 034 heads,
Vic Jr., 750 Demon, solid cam 2400-7000, MSD. Pistons are forged.
It will be pump gas with a "BLUE" co-pilot. I'm thinking 200 will be
the high side.

I need a clutch I can live with and still hold.

I know I'm not optimizing what I got it's just what I want. Any ideas
or ideas. I don't know everything so feel free to point out flaws.

Oh yeah, A/C works but could be quick disconnect.
Hell I'm in TEXAS what do you expect ???????

[djracer]

I don't know squat about clutches if you don't get a response hear you might try the the general section or the 67-72 section. Most of these gear heads are auto guys!

[70rs/ss]

Get a sintered iron clutch disc, there is one for sale on the parts board, they are not too bad. I run a super brute force clutch pack (same basic idea as sintered iron, but ceramic as well) the clutch does not slip, it is either engaged or not, I drove my Camaro every day with that set-up for a couple of years, but it is hearky Jerky! Honestly there are enough 4-speeds out there and they work good on a truck Super T-10 for one, and there are some aftermarket units available that are way beefier than the old Muncies (they break, as me how I know in my Ceramic clutch Camaro!?) They offer a bit of an overdrive in a 4-speed nowadays too. You lose 4th as a 1:1 and 1:.86 so it'll be more streetable and you'd likely never come out of third at the track??


Lots of rambling on there, sorry about that, but I caught your other idea of 4OTT, I imagine you could do it if you wanted, but on a truck you intend to race, even if just for fun the OTT linkage is sloppy at best, so I do not know if I'd want to race with a trans and shifter set-up that I could miss a shift with and grenade a motor??


BTW drivetrain questions have a forum of thier own just above this one, and your clutch question might get more action there?? I found it by looking at your other post and tracked it down to try and help.

There are other trick clutch set ups out there, centerforce has one that clamps harder the faster you spin it, and there are also dual friction set-ups. The sintered iron/ceramics are cheaper but harsher the dual friction are about $600 or so for a clutch pack (clutch/pressure plate, etc).

[Lx3]

Thanks for the reply.

I don't know what drive set-up I'm going to go with yet. The tree stays

but I'm going to have to do alot of math and research. Hell, I haven't even

weighed it yet. I weigh 275. What would you guess 4500, or more ?

As far as missed shifts, I have a pill to cure that.

[djracer]

is anything taken off of it?

[Jtrux]

The three speeds are pretty weak if i'm not mistaken so enen if the clutch can handle it I doubt the tranny will last long. I guess you don't really need to shift it that much, once you hit second it's all smooth sailing, it's just that going from first to second sucks (my first truck was a 3 on the tree too).

BTW I run a Centerforce unit in my blazer and I really like it. I recommend them.

[Lx3]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm lucky to have a freind who was around in the begining of drag racing.

He's 68, I think, and back then they modified and ran what they had. I

haven't taken my trans over to him yet but he says he still has some

parts and tricks. One thing I've found is the three was made by Saginaw

and Muncie with the Muncie being the best choice. I'll post more as I

learn more.

More about my freind. In 1964 at the age of 25 [or so?] he was given

a 64 'vette by his employer "OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR", a budget,

and told to go, travel the country and race. Can you imagine ? In the

process he was able to set records and win many National events. I'm

trying to gather copies of pictures he has and document some stories.

It's one hell of a peice of history. Most people around him have no idea.

If you race in North Texas you may have run across him and never known.

[djracer]

I bet he has a cool bunch of stories.

[Lx3]

Yup but you have to ask he doesn't think it's a big deal. I think there

would be some interest in seeing these pics and hearing some stories.

I'll try to post some stuff. I gotta take my trans over anyway.