Numerous airstrip races dealing with the sticky pedal did it for me. On to a real clutch I went. 
Will a LS7 Clutch be good enough ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 3
From: READING PA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Will a LS7 Clutch be good enough ?
Here is the situation. My LS2 Clutch is shot. I did all the Ranger stuff which was good and lasted longer but unfortunately I only learned about
clutch fluid maintenance when it was too late. The larger issue is I have
507 Rwhp / 461 rwtq and I had the wheels prepped with nitto r555 on
widened 18" fronts looking for that 10.99 and 130 Mph. Knowing I need a
Clutch assy with bleeder assy's my question is would a ls7 Clutch be good enough or will I need a LS9 or RPS considering everything I mentioned here
Thanks, Leon
clutch fluid maintenance when it was too late. The larger issue is I have
507 Rwhp / 461 rwtq and I had the wheels prepped with nitto r555 on
widened 18" fronts looking for that 10.99 and 130 Mph. Knowing I need a
Clutch assy with bleeder assy's my question is would a ls7 Clutch be good enough or will I need a LS9 or RPS considering everything I mentioned here
Thanks, Leon
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
LS3s come with the LS7 clutch and here is my experience.
Car made 494/443 for the majority of the 152 drag strip passes and now makes 517/462.
I got about 130 passes at the drag strip until the clutch became too unreliable for my tastes. I'm no longer able to do any type of burnout as the extra heat is too much and the clutch sticks to the floor and simply will not hold. I can drive it on the street and do some highway pulls right now, but after a 3rd-4th gear pull, the clutch pedal gets stiff and wants to fall to the floor. I'm putting in a new clutch this weekend and I'm anxious to see what my stock clutch looks like when I pull it out.
The LS7 clutch was designed to hold 505 FWhp and you're making 507rwhp. Using common sense, it serves that the OEM clutch would not be a wise choice, especially given drag strip abuse it will be subjected to. It will last for a little while but I can't see it lasting very long if you're going to drag race it.
I would strongly recommend you go with a clutch that is rated substantially higher than what you're going to make with your motor to allow for some cushion when pushing the envelope.
Car made 494/443 for the majority of the 152 drag strip passes and now makes 517/462.
I got about 130 passes at the drag strip until the clutch became too unreliable for my tastes. I'm no longer able to do any type of burnout as the extra heat is too much and the clutch sticks to the floor and simply will not hold. I can drive it on the street and do some highway pulls right now, but after a 3rd-4th gear pull, the clutch pedal gets stiff and wants to fall to the floor. I'm putting in a new clutch this weekend and I'm anxious to see what my stock clutch looks like when I pull it out.
The LS7 clutch was designed to hold 505 FWhp and you're making 507rwhp. Using common sense, it serves that the OEM clutch would not be a wise choice, especially given drag strip abuse it will be subjected to. It will last for a little while but I can't see it lasting very long if you're going to drag race it.
I would strongly recommend you go with a clutch that is rated substantially higher than what you're going to make with your motor to allow for some cushion when pushing the envelope.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 3
From: READING PA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
You make a good point. Thats how mine acts. It sticks to the floor above 5500 RPM. Its funny. Joe G. has about 5,000 runs on his LS2 and it still lives on. A LS9 costs about $2,500
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
Ya, Joe is a good buddy of mine and his gearing definitely helps the abuse his clutch would otherwise be required to take.
Considering that you're paying for labor, I would definitely make sure you 'over clutch' rather than just put something in to get you by. The extra ~$300-500 for a really nice clutch would be worth it to ensure you don't need to change it in the future.
Considering that you're paying for labor, I would definitely make sure you 'over clutch' rather than just put something in to get you by. The extra ~$300-500 for a really nice clutch would be worth it to ensure you don't need to change it in the future.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 3
From: READING PA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Ya, Joe is a good buddy of mine and his gearing definitely helps the abuse his clutch would otherwise be required to take.
Considering that you're paying for labor, I would definitely make sure you 'over clutch' rather than just put something in to get you by. The extra ~$300-500 for a really nice clutch would be worth it to ensure you don't need to change it in the future.
Considering that you're paying for labor, I would definitely make sure you 'over clutch' rather than just put something in to get you by. The extra ~$300-500 for a really nice clutch would be worth it to ensure you don't need to change it in the future.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
You make a good point. Thats how mine acts. It sticks to the floor above 5500 RPM. Its funny. Joe G. has about 5,000 runs on his LS2 and it still lives on. A LS9 costs about $2,500
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 378
From: Detroit
You make a good point. Thats how mine acts. It sticks to the floor above 5500 RPM. Its funny. Joe G. has about 5,000 runs on his LS2 and it still lives on. A LS9 costs about $2,500
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
installed at a Credible shop. The LS7 would be about $1,500 for the same labor. Thanks for your input. Leon
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 29
From: Federal Way WA
If you plan to stay around your power check out this clutch. I have 535/490 in my C5Z and it holds all day. Cost is low and it drives great no chatter at all. I think it's about the same holding power of the monster stage 2. All great reviews of the diamond clutches on LS1tech.
Stage 2 is the one I am using.
http://www.diamondclutch.com/
Stage 2 is the one I am using.
http://www.diamondclutch.com/
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
Jeremy did the initial tune way back in October. Since then, I've added more go-fast goodies and retuned the car with some guidance from trusted friends. I consider the car self-tuned now as many, if not all, of the important part throttle and WOT tables have been modified by me.
Original tune versus my modified tune
Original tune versus my modified tune
Last edited by JUIC3D; Apr 18, 2012 at 07:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 361
From: Kendall Park NJ
RPS makes a superb product. 
We are making a little more HP and more TQ than your LS2 and the RPS stands up to the abuse of high RPM launches. We consistently 60' in the mid 1.3s to low 1.4s. We believe that this is the best street/strip clutch on the market.
We are making a little more HP and more TQ than your LS2 and the RPS stands up to the abuse of high RPM launches. We consistently 60' in the mid 1.3s to low 1.4s. We believe that this is the best street/strip clutch on the market.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 3
From: READING PA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Tick master ?
My clutch does not slip but it sticks to the floor especially from 3rd to 4th. I also removed the return Spring and cant get it back on. Shoulder problems. What is the tick master ?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 361
From: Kendall Park NJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnBdxvLyULE
General comments:
First launch was terrible.
We were very pleased with the second launch.
Third launch was decent but the 2-3 shift was slow.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
That's a great video Gary, thanks for sharing. Your car is so quiet and then bam, you're knocking on the 9 second door. Nice job 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 361
From: Kendall Park NJ
Thank you. We had a similar experience at the T&T at Atco in December when we ran the 9.97. The last three passes were 1.39, 1.39, and 1.36.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,949
Likes: 263
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
474 runs and 64,000 miles to be exact. Someday I will need a new one I guess. 
Gary those runs are always fun to watch! What is the car bogging down to on those launches?
If I bog my car that low it's a 1.8 60 foot for sure. My little ls2 has only 417 rwtq peak compared to the 427 which has more torque down low I have to do a totally different launch technique of slipping my clutch to keep the rpm's above 4500 to get a 1.4. Can you slip that clutch like that or will it grab like it's doing in your car?
One thing about the clutch grabbing...can't beat a wheelie.
Gary those runs are always fun to watch! What is the car bogging down to on those launches?
If I bog my car that low it's a 1.8 60 foot for sure. My little ls2 has only 417 rwtq peak compared to the 427 which has more torque down low I have to do a totally different launch technique of slipping my clutch to keep the rpm's above 4500 to get a 1.4. Can you slip that clutch like that or will it grab like it's doing in your car?
One thing about the clutch grabbing...can't beat a wheelie.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 361
From: Kendall Park NJ
Thanks Joe. On the first wheelie, the car bogged down to about 2890. The other passes were 4042 and 3321, respectively. We have induced clutch slip and it evidenced on the second and third passes. It is just not what you are use to seeing on the stock clutch. Depending on the clutch and setup, it happens to a different degree. 