Clutch Recommendation?

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Joe, you said, "Personally, it's not a clutch I would use but, it's a good clutch". Interesting reply, can you please say more re why you would not use the Centerforce. The only negative I read in the archives was one person saying the weights clattered at idle (my car will be judged so I am a little concerned about that). My restorer/advisor questions Luk. He has used several over the years and had trouble with a couple. Maybe as Jim Durham says in the next post he believed Luk that they were balanced at the factory & they were off??

James------

When it comes to clutches I'm a very "conventional kind of guy". That means that I want to use clutches that replicate, as closely as possible, the configuration of the original clutches installed by GM. For me, this is simple because I have numerous NOS GM clutches [none for sale]. However, if I were to install an aftermarket clutch, I'd want to install one that was a close to the original design and configuration as possible. That means a LUK, Sachs, or Valeo clutch. LUK, Sachs, and Valeo are also major suppliers to GM for OEM clutches.

As far as Centerforce goes, I say that they are a good clutch strictly on the strength of good reports I've heard from many who have used them. However, most of the Centerforce models are not of original design and are a little too "gimmicky" for my taste.

[James B.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Joe, thanks for elaborating, that's helpful.
Regards,JimB

[Peter S.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Great information above. I hope I can piggy back on to Jim's question, but for a '69 350/350. As I understand it, it is a 10-spline, 11" clutch. On Mid-America's website, they list a LuK clutch for $189.99 (http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette...27350-603721-1), whereas it appears on RockAuto the same clutch is listed for $77.89 (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...emplate=true)?

Rock Auto lists the correct part number (04049) that Schaeffler Group lists for this motor/transmission set up.

In the spirit of asking stupid questions, am I missing something??

[Jim D.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

In the spirit of asking stupid questions, am I missing something??

Nope. One charges the "Corvette sur-charge", the other doesn't. Get it from Rock Auto.

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Great information above. I hope I can piggy back on to Jim's question, but for a '69 350/350. As I understand it, it is a 10-spline, 11" clutch. On Mid-America's website, they list a LuK clutch for $189.99 (http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette...27350-603721-1), whereas it appears on RockAuto the same clutch is listed for $77.89 (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...emplate=true)?

Rock Auto lists the correct part number (04049) that Schaeffler Group lists for this motor/transmission set up.

In the spirit of asking stupid questions, am I missing something??

Peter------


Assuming the car has its original transmission (including original input shaft), it will, indeed, require the 10 spline, 11" clutch. All 1969 Corvettes except L-88 and ZL-1 originally used a 14" flywheel with 11" clutch.

[Peter S.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Nope. One charges the "Corvette sur-charge", the other doesn't. Get it from Rock Auto.

That was my thought too Jim, but that is beyond the typical corvette surcharge.

Peter------


Assuming the car has its original transmission (including original input shaft), it will, indeed, require the 10 spline, 11" clutch. All 1969 Corvettes except L-88 and ZL-1 originally used a 14" flywheel with 11" clutch.

Hi Joe,

Yes, original transmission and input shaft. Thanks for the confirmation.

Peter

[William F.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Don't see mention of clutch disc itself. Does it need balancing? If so, by itself?

[Duke W.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

Duke------

SERVICE 400 cid and 454 cid flywheels are intended to be used "out-of-the-box". They have "no idea" what crankshaft they are going to be bolted to or what balancer is going to be installed on that crankshaft. Whatever means the factory uses to balance these SERVICE flywheels can be duplicated and even improved on at a custom balancing shop.

That's likely because all three components were balanced to a specific tolerance range, and this was within a maximum tolerance range for the entire assembly. Balancing the components as a unit can be done to much smaller tolerance, which is why I recommend precision balancing for all engine restorations, both internally and externally balanced engines.

Owners who have had precision balancing accomplished report elimination of the annoying "shifter buzz" that is common on many early Corvettes.

Duke

[Jim D.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

That was my thought too Jim, but that is beyond the typical corvette surcharge.
Peter

Check out C-1 brake drums. Mid-America wants $80 for brand-?. Rock Auto is $28 for Bendix, $29 for Raybestos Professional Grade and $26 for ACDelco. The nice thing about Rock Auto is that you get to choose the brand of parts and they're delivered to your door in a couple days.

[Mike E.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

+1 Rock Auto ROCKS!!...Another nice thing they do is keep your cars make and model. When a part comes up for clearance they send you an email that alerts you of the clearance. I bought a set 16 of AT840R lifter for $33. Then other times they will send you a promo code to get 5-10% off that makes the deal even sweeter.

I think they must pick up old inventory from various places too. Right now they have the same AT840R lifters for $2.08 each, only 8 in stock though. I also got on clearance a LT1 (CS-1145R) for $66, the box had obviously been sitting around for many years.





Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch Recommendation?

That's likely because all three components were balanced to a specific tolerance range, and this was within a maximum tolerance range for the entire assembly. Balancing the components as a unit can be done to much smaller tolerance, which is why I recommend precision balancing for all engine restorations, both internally and externally balanced engines.

Owners who have had precision balancing accomplished report elimination of the annoying "shifter buzz" that is common on many early Corvettes.

Duke

Duke------

When engine reciprocating assembly components are taken to a custom balancing shop, each individual component is usually individually balanced. Then, the assembled components are usually finish-balanced as an assembly. The last step is designed to achieve a very "fine-tuned", precision balance. Obviously, that cannot be done unless the complete reciprocating assembly is submitted to the balance shop. However, that does not mean that one should not submit the flywheel, clutch, and friction disc if only those components are being serviced, including for externally balanced engines.