65 clutch, etc.

[Joseph P.]

Can someone tell me if the OEM clutch, press. plate and throwout bearing were manufactured by LUK? Thank for your help. Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Can someone tell me if the OEM clutch, press. plate and throwout bearing were manufactured by LUK? Thank for your help. Joe

Joe-----



I do not think that he original GM pieces were manufactured by LUK for C1, C2, or C3 Corvettes. They may have manufactured some or all of those for C4 and later, though.

So, who manufactured the original clutches? I do not know. It may have been Borg and Beck since their trademark is seen on some clutch disc brass rivets. It may have been some other company that most folks have never even heard of.

[Joseph P.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Thank you Joe: I have just replaced the clutch setup in my 74 with a LUK. It works great. I didn't know for sure who manufactured for c1, c2, and c3. I have a friend who has over 40 years installing std. trans. and he wasn't sure who manufactured for the older ones. He's retired and didn't keep his old books. So I thought with the extent of knowledge held by the members here someone will chime in. Thanks again. Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Thank you Joe: I have just replaced the clutch setup in my 74 with a LUK. It works great. I didn't know for sure who manufactured for c1, c2, and c3. I have a friend who has over 40 years installing std. trans. and he wasn't sure who manufactured for the older ones. He's retired and didn't keep his old books. So I thought with the extent of knowledge held by the members here someone will chime in. Thanks again. Joe

Joe------


I do think that the LUK clutches are, overall, the best choice for clutch replacement for any C1, C2, or C3. Whether or not they manufactured the original clutches, they are a major OEM manufacturer and I believe their replacement clutches are OEM quality.

All of the original GM clutches for C1, C2, and C3 are GM-discontinued, so they're not an option. They are available through Delco, but I believe the Delco clutches are simply Delco-boxed LUK parts.

[Peter L.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Borg & Beck would be my call as to the original manufacturer also. Pete

[Wayne P.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

I just bought a luk . Pressure plate made in Mexico. So much for made in USA.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

...... So, who manufactured the original clutches? I do not know. It may have been Borg and Beck since their trademark is seen on some clutch disc brass rivets. It may have been some other company that most folks have never even heard of.

Joe -- this may help put a timeframe on GM clutch manufacture. Top clutch is the one with GM on the rivets; bottom has B & B rivet imprint. My catalogs seem to show the 3927128 first appearing for the '68 L79 Corvette. The 3845260 shows in my July '65 P&A30 for 396 Corvette and 409 engines, as well as heavy duty 327 (but not Corvette 327). You'd probably have more info on the # history.

[John H.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

I just bought a luk . Pressure plate made in Mexico. So much for made in USA.

Wayne -

LuK is headquartered in Germany, with 18 plants around the world (part of the Schaeffler Group); they are the world's largest OEM clutch supplier, and have no manufacturing facilities in the U.S. About the only U.S.-made clutches any more are for the hot-rod trade (Zoom, Hays, Spec, Centerforce, etc.).

[Larry M.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Wayne -

LuK is headquartered in Germany, with 18 plants around the world (part of the Schaeffler Group); they are the world's largest OEM clutch supplier, and have no manufacturing facilities in the U.S. About the only U.S.-made clutches any more are for the hot-rod trade (Zoom, Hays, Spec, Centerforce, etc.).

John:

I wish it was still true. The last time I checked (last year) Zoom had moved some (or all) mfg to China, and Hays was stating mfg in Mexico or South America. Centerforce may still be in the USA......I don't know for sure.

Zoom was once Perfection Gear, and made driveline parts in my home town of Harvey, Illinois (southside of Chicago). Like Flint and Detroit, there's not much left nowadays.

Larry

[Joseph P.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Thank you Gentlemen for all of your help. My 65 is a driver and that said I still try to use only OEM parts whenever possible. My friend with the years of experience concurs with all of you as to U.S. made. However he says he would install a LUK if it were his. He says that the OEM borg of yesteryear and today are very different. Once again thank you. I will digest all of this information and go forward. Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Thank you Gentlemen for all of your help. My 65 is a driver and that said I still try to use only OEM parts whenever possible. My friend with the years of experience concurs with all of you as to U.S. made. However he says he would install a LUK if it were his. He says that the OEM borg of yesteryear and today are very different. Once again thank you. I will digest all of this information and go forward. Joe

Joe------


Actually, I can't recall even seeing any Borg and Beck clutch products for sale anymore. I think the company "morphed" several times. Many years ago I think they merged with Warner Gear to form what we know today as Borg-Warner. Borg-Warner then "morphed" , sold off parts of the company, acquired other companies and just, exactly, what they manufacture today I don't even know.

I think that Borg and Beck, as a brand, "fled" to Europe many years ago. I think they still make clutches but, as far as I know, they make them for European applications.

My speculation is that this occurred because Europe is a "last bastion" of high demand for manual transmission cars. Due to the high price of fuel there, very small, manual transmission cars are widely used. In the US, I expect the demand for manual transmission cars has steadily declined for years. All the emphasis here is on further development and application of automatic transmissions.

[John H.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Thank you Gentlemen for all of your help. My 65 is a driver and that said I still try to use only OEM parts whenever possible. My friend with the years of experience concurs with all of you as to U.S. made. However he says he would install a LUK if it were his. He says that the OEM borg of yesteryear and today are very different. Once again thank you. I will digest all of this information and go forward. Joe

Joe -

I can add that I was the Viper Plant Manager for six years before I retired, and LuK was the sole supplier of the 12" Viper clutch we installed (we built the Viper engines in-house, at the assembly plant). Never had a bad one, never saw a warranty claim for one, and our customers told us that the OEM LuK clutch was better than ANY of the "tuner" clutches. I wouldn't be concerned about using a LuK clutch.

[Joseph P.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Ha John: I bought a LUK today for about $200 complete. I think I paid a little more then normal but I like my supplier. He's very knowledge and helps me with my restoration. I don't think he gets the big discounts like some companies. Everything I hear about LUK has been positive. I now have a new one in my 74 and will have one in my 65 so "I'm in". Thanks for the input, it is much appreciated. Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

One more thing I should have mentioned. A new manufacturer of clutches has come on the market fairly recently. It is called Spec Clutch. These are US-manufactured clutches. From what I've seen, these appear to me to be EXTREMELY high quality. However, they come with a price to match.

I'm always reluctant to get involved in any non-OEM-configuration clutch, especially for a Corvette. However, these things interest me. They appear like "aerospace engineering" type pieces. If anyone ever tries one (or, has used one) for a Corvette, I'd be VERY interested in how it works out.

https://www.specclutch.com

[Jim R.]

Re: 65 clutch, etc.

Try a centerforce best i have ever had (65 327 / 365)