Okay, so I have done a bunch of searches on here and seen lots of different suggestions for aftermarket clutches on higher than stock horsepower cars. The problem is that most of them neglect to discuss what the clutch feels like during daily driving situations. I believe I have a bad throwout bearing from some search results and I figured that while I'm in there, I might as well upgrade my clutch since I will probably need a new one soon anyway. BTW, my reason for suspecting the throwout bearing is due to my increasingly hard clutch pedal at high RPM shifts; I do not have the dreaded sticky clutch, it has never ever stuck to the floor. I have done Ranger's fluid technique and while the fluid is staying clear after high RPM runs, the pedal is still getting VERY stiff after these shifts.

My main questions is, of the popular aftermarket clutches (Tex OZ0700, Spec, Centerforce, etc), which one has the closest feel to the stock clutch? I still drive this car 90% of the time so I cannot accept one with a lot of chatter or excessive force to engage. The car will eventually see more strip and track duty but for now is used for street use with occasional spirited runs through the country. I do eventually plan to add a blower to the set-up so the clutch would have to be able to handle close to 600RWHP, but that won't be for awhile. Thanks for your help on this one.

 

It depends on what level of performance you are willing to accept vs. street drivability. I run Tex Exoskel in my car. It handles the 650+ hp just fine and I can hot lap the car at the drag strip with out much of a problem. But driving it on the street you will experience a little chatter from time to time. Thats the kind of trade off that you need to mull over. It kind of comes with the territory with a dual disc clutch. Centerforce makes a good single disc as well as Textraila and Mcloud. If you are really going to go north of 600hp you might want to go dual disc now and be ready for the power increase later on.

 

From what I've read, Textrella Z-grip is the way to go. I think they've had some issues in the past, but they've been resolved. That's from memory over the past 6-months, so I think that's right. Do yourself a favor and search for clutch, then read through some of the threads. You can even search for each particular type to read through the issues with each.

 

Probably much better advice than what I wrote.

 

Whatever your options are, find someone in your area that you can try the clutch out with. Once you get it in there you're gonna be stuck with it for a while so might as sell go the extra step.

 

I'm very happy with my Textralia OZ700 Z grip. After the break-in period was over I have rarely experienced any chatter. The clutch is pretty grabby, but its not bad on a day to day basis.

 

A buddy of mine sent me a thread that sort of layed out what a TEXTRALIA clutch is made of. It pretty much explains how to assemble a $400 clutch made from various parts to assemble what a TEXTRAILA is made from and SAVE $600. Im considering his option!! Has ANYONE done this??? YAY/NAYs????????????????????????????????

Need a clutch BAD! Current STOCK clutch SUCKS! Well actually, it BLOWS!

BC

 

My Centerforce DF feels EXACTLY like stock, I love it!

 

I don't think you are going to find anything out there with a similar to stock feel that can handle 600RWHP - you may want to get something street friendly for now and then upgrade the clutch at the same time as the blower.

Feel my Tex pain here if you haven't read the thread already. The OZ700 Z-grip had wwaaaayyyy too much chatter for a daily driver, but had grab sufficient for a track car - and the pedal was 3-4 times stiffer than stock. The OZ700 X-grip feels very similar to stock both in engagement and pedal feel.

If/when I have to do another clutch it will be Centerforce...

I say go for it - if you get all the parts and they are non-compatible just send them back. Realistically I think the same manufacturer was the source for most of those parts - so you could even ask them if it would all fit together...

 

I can honestly say there is a clutch out there that has a very soft pedal and can handle more than 600 at the wheels, tq and hp.

I've had the Exo and still do (just being rebuilt at the moment), it'll handle around 700-750rw and considering some duals just flat out suck from a street light, (relatively speaking) it's driveability is one of the better out there... but still not even close to being like stock. Can you learn to live with it? Sure, I did.. but can someone who hasn't driven an aftermarket clutch get in the car and get a nice smooth engagement? I don't think so.

While the Exo get's worked on I tried the new line of Mcleod duals, the RXT. Can ANYONE get this clutch to engage smoothly, slip and drive like OEM?

Seriously... yes.

Arnel