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Whats the best clutch to us?

Deadlego

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
45
Location
Delaware
Corvette
1979 Corvette L82 4 spd
I have a 1979 L82 with alum. head intake ect. The car is 4spd and the throwout bearing is bad. So I want to do the clutch but im not sure on what manufactor of clutch I want to get. Also I was thinking about upgradeing to like a stage 1 or stage 2 clutch. Do you have any recomdiations?
 
Just don't buy too much clutch.You will get tired of having a sore left leg from driving with too stiff a clutch that your car may not need.
 
Clutch to use

Centerforce is an excellent clutch for you, stay away from findanza, there is no support from them if things go bad. Talking from past experiences
 
What about LUK or RAM clutchs?? Has any one used them?
 
I got an OEM Borg Warner since the original performed fine and at 72K still had a lot of life left.

Any reason you aren't looking at that?
 
What about LUK or RAM clutchs?? Has any one used them?

See post #3. I've used many LuK clutches, with excellent results - they're the world's largest OEM clutch manufacturer. You don't need a "hot-rod" clutch (Ram, Zoom, Fidanza, etc.).
 
I think I might go with a Sachs Clutch. I found a OE replacement one at a local auto parts store for $170. Thats not bad price. I have heard they are good clutchs.
 
Centerforce is an excellent clutch for you, stay away from findanza, there is no support from them if things go bad. Talking from past experiences

"Speedy427", Could you elaborate a bit on your comments about Centerforce and Fidanza products?

What makes a Centerforce an "excellent" clutch? As for Fidanza, you've made some pretty damning claims, however, you've offered nothing to back up your seeming slander. How about posting some evidence--some specifics--to support your statement about "no support".

Also, rather than hiding behind a screen name, why not add just a tiny bit of credibility to what you say, by putting your name on it?:thumb

The name Luk keeps coming up in this thread, but it's unlikely Luk has an aftermarket clutch application for a car that old. Luk has only been a clutch supplier to GM since the late 80s. The person who made the original post is talking about a late-60s/early-70s style clutch which was used into the last of the C3 model years.

A good clutch for a car using an other style lever-type or diaphragm clutch is made by McLeod Industries. They have applications for Vettes going back into the late 50s as well as replacement clutches for the newest of C6es. I've used McLeod clutch parts in all of my older vehicles...my 65 Malibu, 71 BB Coupe and my 95 C4. I also have McLeod pieces in my 01 Camaro. The quality has already been good and the support is reasonably good, too.

As for "how much" clutch you need...well that depends on 1) what you do with the car and 2) how much torque the engine is putting out. For example, if you drag race a lot and you've got an engine making 500 lbs/ft torque then you ad a 200 shot of nitrous, you're going to need a pretty stout clutch maybe even a two-plate clutch if you want reasonable pedal effort. On the other hand if your engine makes 350 lbs/ft and your pretty much just a street driver, you really don't need much clutch at all--you can probably get away with a single place clutch having pedal effort not much higher than stock.
 
I use a CF II on my 383 stroker '76 'Vette. 2+ years without a problem and pedal effort seems almost stock.

However, to avoid problems, dimensions must be checked as per instructions.
 
best clutch

Hey Hib, Wasnt bashing them totally. First of all, I've put in a ton of clutches in my 40+ years of working on cars. I had a customer that was hell bent on having one of said clutches, I said alright, at this time the customer is always right. Install said clutch and 3 weeks later said manufacturers pressure plate went south and not from improper install. To save face with customer I called said manufacturer and was told that if customer had to buy another pressure plate and would not prorate 1st plate and that was the end of story. In end run, I got one unhappy customer which I don't like having. Just to let you know, I'm not slandering anyone, I just stated an experience with said manufacturer. And to clarify my mechanical experience I own a top alcohol funny car that runs in the 6's. Is that good enough for you. Are you a certified mechanic or just a literature fill keyboard artist? I certainly don't appreciate someone saying that I am bashing anyone let alone slandering someones product. With that said, I will not discuss this anymore. Take my opinion for what it is or go back to figuring out how to get the brake dust of your C6
 
Well I went with the Sachs clutch kit. I was thinking about the Centerforce but right now I need the car and well my money is tight because of college. It just su8cks that now I have to pull the engine to do the dam clutch......

To let you all know Im certified in Collision repair. Im platium I-Car technician. I have restored a old ford truck sold that truck and bought the Corvette with the money from the truck. Also Im going to college to get my Airframe Repair certification. So im not no kid behind a keyboard. I just have not done many clutchs thats all.
 
I think you can drop the tranny to change the clutch.
 
The Sachs clutch will work fine - Sachs is a Division of LuK. LuK, by the way, has a whole line of "RepSet" clutches for Corvettes back to 1956 - I've used many of them in 57's to 67's over the years. :)

:beer
 
I have a LUK clutch and it's perfect for my needs.

One thing to remember is that you will have use a different pivot stud with the clutch fork. The LUK clutch requires a taller pivot stud. It is part # LAC108, and can be purchased from Dial-a-Clutch (Dial-A-Clutch - Your LuK Clutch Kit Specialist, or 877-225-8824).
 

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