MA6 heavy duty clutch

[John S.]

I bought a pile of parts and in it was what I presume a NOS heavy duty clutch set up. I see in 69 the option was offered with 102 put on assembly line cars. Did any other years use this clutch set up? From what I see not all L-88 cars would have had this set up since 116 cars were built. Any info on this rare bird would be appreciated. john

[Chuck S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John, I looked at a 69 that had the option. I really can't tell you anything about the clutch, since I didn't drive the car or put it on a rack. I understand the clutch has two friction discs, beyond that, nada.

I can tell you that your NOS clutch set will probably be very desireable for a collector car owner that has a tank sheet that says MA6, but his car has been retrofitted to the single disc clutch. It seems like we have had at least one such owner post on this board in the past.

[Chuck S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John, I looked at a 69 that had the option. I really can't tell you anything about the clutch, since I didn't drive the car or put it on a rack. I understand the clutch has two friction discs, beyond that, nada.

I can tell you that your NOS clutch set will probably be very desireable for a collector car owner that has a tank sheet that says MA6, but his car has been retrofitted to the single disc clutch. It seems like we have had at least one such owner post on this board in the past.

[John S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

I forgot to say; that this clutch setup has 2 disc's and a slider. The disc's have a course spline. I guess this is the MA6 clutch set up. Any correction is welcomed. john

[John S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

I forgot to say; that this clutch setup has 2 disc's and a slider. The disc's have a course spline. I guess this is the MA6 clutch set up. Any correction is welcomed. john

[Donald T.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

The link below has an article on the MA6 option. It was also available on the 69 Camaro. I'd put it on Ebay and see what it brings!




http://www.yearone.com/enthusiast/re...ets/camaro.htm

[Donald T.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

The link below has an article on the MA6 option. It was also available on the 69 Camaro. I'd put it on Ebay and see what it brings!




http://www.yearone.com/enthusiast/re...ets/camaro.htm

[Warren F.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John:

The dual disc clutch option MA6 for Corvette application, seems to be found on L89 optioned L71 cars, mostly.

The clutch setup was part of the LS6 option in 1971. For the 102 quantity found in the 1969 Corvette lineup, all would be course spline application for use with the M21 cars.

For the 1971 quantity of 188 cars, there would be both fine spline and course spline setups for those LS6's with M22's as well as those ordered with M21's

I believe the 12 ZR2 cars were equiped with the same clutch setup as the L88 cars.

The number of LS6 cars ordered with M21 vs M22 is not presently known exactly. 130 is shown as quantity of M22's for '71. With 12 for ZR2 application and another 8 for ZR1 application, that leaves 110.

I looked at a NOS course spline setup at Bloomington for sale this year, and purchased a fine spline setup as a spare for myself there. I saw another course spline setup as well for sale there.

[Warren F.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John:

The dual disc clutch option MA6 for Corvette application, seems to be found on L89 optioned L71 cars, mostly.

The clutch setup was part of the LS6 option in 1971. For the 102 quantity found in the 1969 Corvette lineup, all would be course spline application for use with the M21 cars.

For the 1971 quantity of 188 cars, there would be both fine spline and course spline setups for those LS6's with M22's as well as those ordered with M21's

I believe the 12 ZR2 cars were equiped with the same clutch setup as the L88 cars.

The number of LS6 cars ordered with M21 vs M22 is not presently known exactly. 130 is shown as quantity of M22's for '71. With 12 for ZR2 application and another 8 for ZR1 application, that leaves 110.

I looked at a NOS course spline setup at Bloomington for sale this year, and purchased a fine spline setup as a spare for myself there. I saw another course spline setup as well for sale there.

[Dick W.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

I have looked at at least 25 or so '69 L/88's and never have seen a MA-6 options. I have seen two L-89 cars with this option. I have to agree that it was probably used more on the L-71 or L-89 cars more often. I could see a problem with applications that required rapid shifting. Too much rotating mass. Rare option though. Probably rarer even for the original equipped cars to still have this setup

[Dick W.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

I have looked at at least 25 or so '69 L/88's and never have seen a MA-6 options. I have seen two L-89 cars with this option. I have to agree that it was probably used more on the L-71 or L-89 cars more often. I could see a problem with applications that required rapid shifting. Too much rotating mass. Rare option though. Probably rarer even for the original equipped cars to still have this setup

[Joe L.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John, et al------

The MA-6 clutch option was available for 1969 only. It was never available with L-88. In fact, it was available only with L-71 and no other engine option (L-89 was an "add-on" option for L-71 so MA-6 was, of course, also available with L-71/L-89). The MA-6 clutch consisted of a special 14" flywheel, a special dual pressure plate assembly, and dual friction discs.

Although never offered as an option again after 1969, a similar dual disc clutch was also used for all 1971 LS-6, including ZR-2, which were also equipped with manual transmission (some LS-6 were originally equipped with THM-400). Basically, the set-up was the same. However, most of the parts were different. That's because the 1969 MA-6 used 10 spline friction discs and the 1971 LS-6 used 26 spline friction discs. Also, the special flywheel needed to be counterweighted for the LS-6 external balance application whereas the 1969 L-71 was internally balanced and used a neutral-balanced special flywheel. The special dual disc pressure plate assembly was the same for 1969 MA-6 and 1971 LS-6, though.

[Joe L.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

John, et al------

The MA-6 clutch option was available for 1969 only. It was never available with L-88. In fact, it was available only with L-71 and no other engine option (L-89 was an "add-on" option for L-71 so MA-6 was, of course, also available with L-71/L-89). The MA-6 clutch consisted of a special 14" flywheel, a special dual pressure plate assembly, and dual friction discs.

Although never offered as an option again after 1969, a similar dual disc clutch was also used for all 1971 LS-6, including ZR-2, which were also equipped with manual transmission (some LS-6 were originally equipped with THM-400). Basically, the set-up was the same. However, most of the parts were different. That's because the 1969 MA-6 used 10 spline friction discs and the 1971 LS-6 used 26 spline friction discs. Also, the special flywheel needed to be counterweighted for the LS-6 external balance application whereas the 1969 L-71 was internally balanced and used a neutral-balanced special flywheel. The special dual disc pressure plate assembly was the same for 1969 MA-6 and 1971 LS-6, though.

[Chuck S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

Joe, the car I saw with the MA6 option was, in fact, an L71 because the original owner told me he didn't like the aluminum heads. I don't remember the transmission, but it must have been an M22 given the guy's other option choices.

I went for a ride with him, but I didn't hear any M22 gear whine...the side pipes were very loud, and that cold big block was running rougher than a cob, stumbling and wheezing with the guy goosing it to keep it running. You could forget about hearing any gear whine; heck, I couldn't even hear myself think.

[Chuck S.]

Re: MA6 heavy duty clutch

Joe, the car I saw with the MA6 option was, in fact, an L71 because the original owner told me he didn't like the aluminum heads. I don't remember the transmission, but it must have been an M22 given the guy's other option choices.

I went for a ride with him, but I didn't hear any M22 gear whine...the side pipes were very loud, and that cold big block was running rougher than a cob, stumbling and wheezing with the guy goosing it to keep it running. You could forget about hearing any gear whine; heck, I couldn't even hear myself think.