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[Z06] Clutch Problem

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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 02:37 AM
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Default Clutch Problem

Took my 02 Z to the drag strip tonight. I put BFG DR on. The car has LT headers cai and tune. On my 2nd pass I think I glazed the clutch on my burnout. I launched at 4K slipped the clutch and than would not go into 2nd. The clutch is stock. Was 4k too much for the stock clutch?
I did not make another pass and went home. The clutch seems to be ok. It did smell pretty bad. Am I going to need a new clutch soon? Thanks Brian

Last edited by Zosixin; Mar 22, 2007 at 04:22 AM.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 04:21 AM
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Forgot to mention clutch has 30k miles on it, 35 passes. The car is in my garage about 2 hours latter I can still smell the clutch. Not sure if I did anything wrong, maybe the clutch is just on its last leg? Any input? Thanks.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 08:00 AM
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From your description, you glazed the clutch. Generally, there's no lasting harm done. Once the mating surfaces have cooled, all is well again. Because the friction surfaces express dust, that haunting "eau de clutch" unusually lingers for a couple days.

The remediation effort involves two steps:
(1) clutch release. On the burnout, the release should be lightning fast. A pop of the pedal. On launch, the release should be fast, very fast. A slow release puts more heat in the clutch and can lead to glazing.
(2) Clutch fluid maintenance. Take care of your clutch fluid. It gets hot when you're making passes. If the pedal acts up, the clutch won't fully release, and you can damage the tranny by shift refusals or misses.

Ranger
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Ranger
From your description, you glazed the clutch. Generally, there's no lasting harm done. Once the mating surfaces have cooled, all is well again. Because the friction surfaces express dust, that haunting "eau de clutch" unusually lingers for a couple days.

The remediation effort involves two steps:
(1) clutch release. On the burnout, the release should be lightning fast. A pop of the pedal. On launch, the release should be fast, very fast. A slow release puts more heat in the clutch and can lead to glazing.
(2) Clutch fluid maintenance. Take care of your clutch fluid. It gets hot when you're making passes. If the pedal acts up, the clutch won't fully release, and you can damage the tranny by shift refusals or misses.

Ranger
Ranger I think that is what happened. I was trying to do a better burnout, I was going to apply brake with my left foot. I have never done that technique before, and I botch it. Because I was thinking about applying the brake I did not let the clutch out fast. The car just launched forward, no spin. At the time I didnt think about it. I just started preparing for my run.
I had a 1.91 60 ft on that run and I was power shifting into 2nd when It would not go in to gear.
I do change my fluid about once a month. Should you avoid filling it to the top?
Thanks for your help Ranger.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Zosixin
...I do change my fluid about once a month. Should you avoid filling it to the top?
Thanks for your help Ranger.
Fill the fluid just to the line at the shoulder. You can feel that line with your finger inside the reservoir. Don't over- or under-fill. Should be up to the line.

Once a month is not often enough for aggressive driving or thr track. Suggest you read the threads on the subject:

Here is the protocol in brief.

Here are links to the original threads.

Clutch Pedal Woes--Fluid Impact

C6 Clutch Hydraulic Fluid--the Chevy Spec

Clutch Pedal Woes--Fluid Changing Kit

Missed shifts are bad. Missed powershifts are worse.

Ranger
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 03:27 PM
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it's now time to make this thread drag by asking a stupid question! what is a "power shift?" and what exactly is a "missed shift?" i think i know, but would rather ask experts than just guess at it. i've always heard a power shift is when you quickly shift to the next gear without letting off the throttle.

yes i freely admit that i need some driver's training for this new vette of mine. ya i can make it do a few things, and i've driven manuals in the past. i've never done any kind of real "performance driving" though. i'd love to find someone local to NW arkansas that knows how to drive these cars well and can teach me a few things. right now, there's NO way i'd take my car to a drag strip.... i'd break something for sure (or be laughed at)!
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by tvlance
it's now time to make this thread drag by asking a stupid question! what is a "power shift?" and what exactly is a "missed shift?" i think i know, but would rather ask experts than just guess at it. i've always heard a power shift is when you quickly shift to the next gear without letting off the throttle.

yes i freely admit that i need some driver's training for this new vette of mine. ya i can make it do a few things, and i've driven manuals in the past. i've never done any kind of real "performance driving" though. i'd love to find someone local to NW arkansas that knows how to drive these cars well and can teach me a few things. right now, there's NO way i'd take my car to a drag strip.... i'd break something for sure (or be laughed at)!
First off ... join your local vette club. Pick one that has alot of racers and does track/autoX events. Some clubs just go in for car shows / tours. U will be amazed what the old timers can/will teach you ... and the practice of the club events will get you up to speed quickly.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 04:42 PM
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Tylance click on Rangers profile, there is a link to drag racing the c5 zo6.


Ranger I took my Z for a hard drive, everything seemed fine, but when I got back home, I can still smell the clutch. Not strong, but still there.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Zosixin
...Ranger I took my Z for a hard drive, everything seemed fine, but when I got back home, I can still smell the clutch. Not strong, but still there.
Take that as some reassurance, not a full reprieve, until you ensure the clutch fluid is returned to a pristine state and stays there.

Ranger
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 05:37 PM
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Ranger on that last run I left at 4k. The tires did not spin at all no bog either. Would you have left a little harder next time? Or is that the limit of the stock clutch?
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Zosixin
Ranger on that last run I left at 4k. The tires did not spin at all no bog either. Would you have left a little harder next time? Or is that the limit of the stock clutch?
On my 02 Z06, with BFGs I launched at 3600-4200 depending on track conditions. The tires wouldn't hook higher than that for me, using my launch approach of a fast clutch release. On MT Radials that rpm was 4600-5200, using the same release. Less than that was bog city.

The above indicates the LS6 clutch at stock or near-stock power levels is a great clutch and robust under duress.

Keep in mind, I used a fast release and kept the clutch fluid pristine. That plus shifting practice can yield many, many passes without any breakage.

Ranger
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 06:08 PM
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Another question I have is what does elevation do to a engine? Does it make less hp? I do race at about 2500ft above sea level. My car with headers cai and tune made 373 hp 364 tq. The tuners shop was at the speedway under the same conditions as I would race. Now if I were at sea level would I be making more power? Therefore I would not be able to launch as hard?
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 06:18 PM
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^^^^ http://www.nhra.com/tech_specs/altitude.html

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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 06:34 PM
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I know about the conversion's. My questions was does elevation produce less hp on a engine. If so, is there a conversion for hp to sea level? Are some set ups effected less by the elevations( super chargers, TT ect.)
I know I got a little off topic, I just never got a straight answer from anyone yet. Thanks again Ranger.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 06:43 PM
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^^^ A typical dyno graph carries a "correction factor," usually referred to as SAE. Check your graphs for "SAE."

Your actual horspower is produced at prevailing conditions, that is altitude, air temp, station pressure and humidity.

So at 2500' actual altitude your car will produce less power than it would located at sea level. That altitude difference is shown on the NHRA threat whose link I provided above.

Ranger
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Zosixin
I know about the conversion's. My questions was does elevation produce less hp on a engine. If so, is there a conversion for hp to sea level? Are some set ups effected less by the elevations( super chargers, TT ect.)
I know I got a little off topic, I just never got a straight answer from anyone yet. Thanks again Ranger.

The answer is obviously yes, because you are producing slower ETs at the track. This is due to having less horse power from the air-density curve at higher elevations. Volumetric efficiency decreases at higher elevations. There is less oxygen in the air available for combustion and you can't get as much power. Air density is affected by temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. You will feel a power loss on a hot or humid day as well. There is roughly a 3% drop in horsepower per 1,000 foot increase in elevation. To determine how much horsepower you lose, multiply your horsepower by 3% and again by the elevation, then divide by 1,000. If you have 373 whp at sea level, at a track like Los Angeles County Raceway at 2,500 feet elevation, you'll lose [2500 * 0.03(373)]/1000, or 28whp.

Last edited by DesertLS6; Mar 22, 2007 at 08:30 PM.
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Old Mar 22, 2007 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by tvlance
it's now time to make this thread drag by asking a stupid question! what is a "power shift?" and what exactly is a "missed shift?" i think i know, but would rather ask experts than just guess at it. i've always heard a power shift is when you quickly shift to the next gear without letting off the throttle.
das it. Keep your foot on the wood, stab the clutch, grab the next gear. it doesn't take long

I'm still "learning" the Z (only had mine a few months) but powershifting on past cars at the drags is worth about .15-3 tenths depending on the car.

So far i'm stuck at 12.30s for the 01 as my F1 tires left the factory with the car in Jan 01, they are hopelessy old/hard and slippery. 2.0 sixty's was all I could cut my first time out (and only time out so far) and I was still feeling the car out, no powershifting, etc.
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