I need Spec Clutch advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 25
From: Lafayette Indiana
I need Spec Clutch advice
Since the head-cam install my stock clutch doesn't like me anymore 
Under any kind of abuse and it just gets sticky and slow to come up off the floor.
I'm thinking about the spec stage II with aluminum flywheel. Just wondering how people with it like it and how it feels? I've driven a C5 with a stage III and I didn't like the "on off" grab of it. It jerks rather than a slight slip.
Or maybe I should go with the stage III clutch and the stage II pressure plate? Would this give me the strength of the stage III but have better daily driving manners??
Thanks for any help, I just want the car to be as friendly as possible. When you do heads cam and it still drives like stock, there has got to be a high horsepower clutch out there that can do somewhat the same.
Under any kind of abuse and it just gets sticky and slow to come up off the floor. I'm thinking about the spec stage II with aluminum flywheel. Just wondering how people with it like it and how it feels? I've driven a C5 with a stage III and I didn't like the "on off" grab of it. It jerks rather than a slight slip.
Or maybe I should go with the stage III clutch and the stage II pressure plate? Would this give me the strength of the stage III but have better daily driving manners??
Thanks for any help, I just want the car to be as friendly as possible. When you do heads cam and it still drives like stock, there has got to be a high horsepower clutch out there that can do somewhat the same.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
I can't say this enough.... STAY AWAY FROM SPEC!!! They are cheap (junk), occasionaly they work, but:
They chatter
They fade fast
They make the car shudder so bad your teeth fall out at low speeds (pulling into garage)
ect ect ect
Spend the money and get an Exedy or a McLeod! These cost more but are so so so so much better.
There's even a GP going on!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=938651
They chatter
They fade fast
They make the car shudder so bad your teeth fall out at low speeds (pulling into garage)
ect ect ect
Spend the money and get an Exedy or a McLeod! These cost more but are so so so so much better.
There's even a GP going on!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=938651
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
But, if you are under 600 crank hp you can go with a LUK Gold series clutch & Fidanza flywheel. They engage a lot like stock, they grab much better, they don't slip, they don't shudder and they are smooth as silk. I have a Spec Stage 3 and am not happy with it. for all the above reasons and it was pretty far out of balance too. It was a bear to get right. The installer had to remove it twice and still had to fudge it with washers before it was all over. The LUK is about $800 total with the flywheel. It is a good alternative to the more expensive Exedy's or McCleod's. Mallet uses them.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: nc
Im gonna go right at it here. Go for the stage 3 spec clutch with fidanza flywheel. I have a spec 1 goin to step up to stage 2 this winter, I got 52k out of my stage 1 with some pretty heavy abuse, me being 18 and all. I would do it, i havent stopped hearing enough good things about spec. I have never heard a bad thing until this thread.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,117
Likes: 1
From: El Paso TX
Originally Posted by Tsab
The Luk Stage II gold is a good clutch as well and comes with the aluminum flywheel. I have not heard many good things about Spec. The exidy single disc is very durable as well.
Matt
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 464
Likes: 4
From: Westland MI
I put a SPEC in my car after doing my head & cam swap as well. I have the Stage II and was pretty happy with it at first... I have had no problems with chatter or shudder, but after less than 2,000 miles it already lets out way to close to the floor. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 4
From: Official Misfit Cooler Owner
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I have about 600 miles on my Spec Stage 2 and I still have a decent amount of chatter at low speeds. I heard it should go away by 1k but I am starting to get concerned I made a bad choice.
If I was going to do today all over (just did it 2 weeks ago) I would get either Luk Gold or Exedy single.
If I was going to do today all over (just did it 2 weeks ago) I would get either Luk Gold or Exedy single.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 4
From: Official Misfit Cooler Owner
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I have about 600 miles on my Spec Stage 2 and I still have a decent amount of chatter at low speeds. I heard it should go away by 1k but I am starting to get concerned I made a bad choice.
If I was going to do today all over (just did it 2 weeks ago) I would get either Luk Gold or Exedy single.
If I was going to do today all over (just did it 2 weeks ago) I would get either Luk Gold or Exedy single.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
Are you guys with chatter breaking your clutches in gently? You need to really baby the clutch for the first 500 miles. NO full throttle...
You will get hotspots on the friction surface which cause all kinds of chatter.
You will get hotspots on the friction surface which cause all kinds of chatter.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by daveydc5
Are you guys with chatter breaking your clutches in gently? You need to really baby the clutch for the first 500 miles. NO full throttle...
You will get hotspots on the friction surface which cause all kinds of chatter.
You will get hotspots on the friction surface which cause all kinds of chatter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by diynoob
I have a Spec III and I hate it. It chatters a lot, and yes, I babied the crap out of the clutch for the first 600 miles.
Spec clutches are are chattery and an aluminum flywheel only makes them worse. Any of you that like the Spec should drive a car with an Exedy/steel flywheel and you'll see why so many say the Spec is CRAP!! My car would shudder so bad with the Spec that I was afraid it would jerk itself apart." PurpleHaze98" If you haven't heard all the complaints about the Spec clutches....stick around....your a new member so do a search and you'll find volumes of complaints about the Spec and why most are replaced.
Last edited by HIGHRPM; Nov 2, 2004 at 01:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Originally Posted by diynoob
I have a Spec III and I hate it. It chatters a lot, and yes, I babied the crap out of the clutch for the first 600 miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,464
Likes: 2
From: Private
I have the LUK stage II with Fidanza Flywheel and it pretty much feels like stock, except that the car rips through the RPM's. I totally recommend this set up. I had a dealer install it and have no chatter or any negative feeling to it.
LUK is also the OEM clutch provider for GM which sold me on the deal.
LUK is also the OEM clutch provider for GM which sold me on the deal.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 25
From: Lafayette Indiana
Well it sounds like I will be going with the LUK and aluminum flywheel. Can someone post a link to a supplier that has a price quoted..
Thanks for all the help. I'm glad I asked before going with the spec. I'm not going to chance something as important as the clutch, not to mention the amount of time to do work.
Thanks for all the help. I'm glad I asked before going with the spec. I'm not going to chance something as important as the clutch, not to mention the amount of time to do work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: new castle in
I would go with a spec stage 3i I have 4k miles on mine so far and its great. I have 570rwhp and I went through 2 twin disk mcleod clutches and 2 spec stage 3 clutches the 3i is the best for me so far but I am pretty hard on mine with 5k rpm lauches at the strip..