C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Suggestions for clutch replacement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 27, 2017 | 08:53 PM
  #1  
Bwbob's Avatar
Bwbob
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Osceola WI
Default Suggestions for clutch replacement

All i want is a more or less stock replacement, 86 non modded but i would care for some input from people. I definately dont want junk but i am not headed to a drag race with this car. Sources and suggestions?
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2017 | 09:20 PM
  #2  
hcbph's Avatar
hcbph
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 605
From: Minneapolis Mn
Default

Check here and other corvette sites in the cars for sale section. Check Craigs List and other car sale sites for cars. Go look at a few before doing anything, get the feel for fit and finish. Decide if you want a coupe or convertible, manual or automatic tranny.
Go over it well. Check if someone is local that knows C4's and will go with you, members on many forums offer.
Check the fluids, check the seals (weather and mechanicals), age and condition of tires, age and condition of suspension. Insure that all the electrical items work. Check the condition of the interior and paint, look at the belts and hoses. Obviously look for previous body damage or repairs including repaints. Look at the condition of hte top or tops. Take a code reader if possible and see if there are any codes present. Now take it for a drive and preferably have someone follow you, watch how it tracks and for things like exhaust smoke. I'd go for something driven at least 2-3K a year, has not been in extended storage (meaning years at a time), has good maintenance records, the more the merrier. If it looks good, see if the seller is willing to let you have a mechanic of your choice look it over.

Personal thing here, I believe southern or western cars are less likely to have rust issues that northern or eastern ones. Just basing that on what I've seen, so take that with a grain of salt.

Know that an 86 has either 32mm or 38mm backspace rims (only 84-87 IIRC) and 16" diameter. Tires are still available but limited. Happens I just updated mine to 18x9.5" +40mm rims with 255x40zr18 tires. Fit perfect with no spacers required. Newer C4's have 17" with a 56mm backspacing and won't fit without adapters.

Got mine from a car auction in N.M. in 2013. I got the best I could for the money I had to work with.

Last edited by hcbph; Feb 27, 2017 at 09:27 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2017 | 09:43 PM
  #3  
mtwoolford's Avatar
mtwoolford
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
Default

Originally Posted by Bwbob
All i want is a more or less stock replacement, 86 non modded but i would care for some input from people. I definately dont want junk but i am not headed to a drag race with this car. Sources and suggestions?
check out the SPEC website, every clutch from mild to wild, flywheels also
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2017 | 05:37 AM
  #4  
Bwbob's Avatar
Bwbob
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Osceola WI
Default

Originally Posted by hcbph
Check here and other corvette sites in the cars for sale section. Check Craigs List and other car sale sites for cars. Go look at a few before doing anything, get the feel for fit and finish. Decide if you want a coupe or convertible, manual or automatic tranny.
Go over it well. Check if someone is local that knows C4's and will go with you, members on many forums offer.
Check the fluids, check the seals (weather and mechanicals), age and condition of tires, age and condition of suspension. Insure that all the electrical items work. Check the condition of the interior and paint, look at the belts and hoses. Obviously look for previous body damage or repairs including repaints. Look at the condition of hte top or tops. Take a code reader if possible and see if there are any codes present. Now take it for a drive and preferably have someone follow you, watch how it tracks and for things like exhaust smoke. I'd go for something driven at least 2-3K a year, has not been in extended storage (meaning years at a time), has good maintenance records, the more the merrier. If it looks good, see if the seller is willing to let you have a mechanic of your choice look it over.

Personal thing here, I believe southern or western cars are less likely to have rust issues that northern or eastern ones. Just basing that on what I've seen, so take that with a grain of salt.

Know that an 86 has either 32mm or 38mm backspace rims (only 84-87 IIRC) and 16" diameter. Tires are still available but limited. Happens I just updated mine to 18x9.5" +40mm rims with 255x40zr18 tires. Fit perfect with no spacers required. Newer C4's have 17" with a 56mm backspacing and won't fit without adapters.

Got mine from a car auction in N.M. in 2013. I got the best I could for the money I had to work with.
All i need is a clutch, not a whole car. I dont think i could slip that past the wife
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2017 | 10:59 AM
  #5  
856SPEED's Avatar
856SPEED
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Default

Originally Posted by Bwbob
All i need is a clutch, not a whole car. I dont think i could slip that past the wife
funny...saw the long post on advice on buying a C4 when you are looking for a clutch replacement.

I concur with the post above on SPEC. I run a SPEC in mine that is excellent. Carolina Clutch is who I deal with. I think Tom is the owner and knows a little about the C4 applications. Good luck!
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2017 | 02:57 PM
  #6  
corvetteracer72's Avatar
corvetteracer72
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 5
From: Glenview IL
Default

Changed mine with SACHS K1911-01 kit . I had to resurface the flywheel. Works like a dream . Also it was affordable 160 USD.

Last edited by corvetteracer72; Feb 28, 2017 at 02:58 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2017 | 04:04 PM
  #7  
Klondike's Avatar
Klondike
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,186
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Default

I can tell you what NOT to bother with: RAM Clutches !
If you ever slip the thing just a LITTLE, (and I'm not talking about drag racing either)I mean easy like going up the driveway or into the garage, it stinks like burnt sea-shells for 1/2 an hour!
Also, apparently they have no clue what BALANCING means either.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2017 | 08:58 PM
  #8  
Bwbob's Avatar
Bwbob
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Osceola WI
Default

Saks or Luk i think is my direction. I will probably not put 20k on the car from here and pretty sure my kid wont get to try burnouts either till he gets his own.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Suggestions for clutch replacement

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:55 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE