clutch advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 899
Likes: 209
From: Louisville KY
clutch advice
I am in the planning stage of upgrading my 08, C6, LS3 to 550 to 560 NA RWHP and I need clutch advice. The car has the stock 08 clutch which has had no problems holding the 495 RWHP it currently makes. This is strictly a street driven car (no track time). Is there a higher spec OEM Corvette clutch that will fit and be reliable at the target HP?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
I am in the planning stage of upgrading my 08, C6, LS3 to 550 to 560 NA RWHP and I need clutch advice. The car has the stock 08 clutch which has had no problems holding the 495 RWHP it currently makes. This is strictly a street driven car (no track time). Is there a higher spec OEM Corvette clutch that will fit and be reliable at the target HP?
Last edited by Mike's LS3; May 4, 2016 at 11:02 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
I am in the planning stage of upgrading my 08, C6, LS3 to 550 to 560 NA RWHP and I need clutch advice. The car has the stock 08 clutch which has had no problems holding the 495 RWHP it currently makes. This is strictly a street driven car (no track time). Is there a higher spec OEM Corvette clutch that will fit and be reliable at the target HP?
Short of the older LS-2 cars, the two OEM clutches used in the C6 vets are either the LS-7 unit, or the LS-9 unit (twin disc Sach unit).
On the LS-9 clutch, it OEM flywheel will not bolt to the crank on a LS-3, so you need an after market flywheel that will bolt to the crank, and that the LS-9 clutch will bolt to it (LS-9 clutch will not bolt to a oem LS-3 flywheel).
The LS-9 does not have the holding power of some after marker clutches (about 800hp verses over 1KHP for some after market clutches), but on the positive note, the LS-9 is feels like a stock clutch at the pedal, and just as easy to slip when needed as well (no bad habits of a race clutch).
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
Absolutely ZERO reason to run the ls9 clutch. Run the LT1 clutch if you want that style. It is just a newer/better OEM style dual disk and much more robust than the ls9 clutch.
Mantic 9000s work great and I wouldn't run anything else.
Mantic 9000s work great and I wouldn't run anything else.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
I wouldn't run the LS9 either.
If you want factory parts then get one of Monster's LT1 based clutches. That is what I have. Mantic 9000 is another obvious choice.. everyone seems to love those things.
If you want factory parts then get one of Monster's LT1 based clutches. That is what I have. Mantic 9000 is another obvious choice.. everyone seems to love those things.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
I have driven a ZR1 and did not care for the clutch. Great car just not the clutch. I am really happy with the Mantic 9000.
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
I had one, and it had nothing to do with the way it drove. It is the reliability of them. The LT1 clutch is far superior, along with many other aftermarket ones. No reason to run old school parts when newer stuff is out.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
LS9 clutches have to many problems and agree with the others...waste of time and money,
Most of the builds here we use Tilton or Centerforce. I would say for the street car crowd, the Centerforce DYAD has been a very beefy clutch and has taken it's fair share of abuse and held up like a champ. They drive nice too, or at least I always thought so.
Most of the builds here we use Tilton or Centerforce. I would say for the street car crowd, the Centerforce DYAD has been a very beefy clutch and has taken it's fair share of abuse and held up like a champ. They drive nice too, or at least I always thought so.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 899
Likes: 209
From: Louisville KY
Still doing research and asking questions but so far the foundation of the new build will be a 416 stroker and having my LS3 heads CNC ported by a reputable shop. I do not expect to want to go any further than the 550 to 560 HP goal with this car. Available traction is already a issue I have to address at 490 HP.
Cam choice is open right now and I may be able to reuse the cam I am running (spinmonster spec 230/234) with fresh spring kit. Like the clutch I want to keep the cam street friendly. 550 to 560 NA RWHP is not that unusual these days, it's just expensive. Getting the right combination is the tricky part.
As far as clutches one recommendation I got was for a centerforce dual disc kit which should be more than adequate and reportedly has close to stock feel. Anybody have any input on the Centerforce? Since the car is not track raced I was hoping one of GM's OEM clutches would work and be less expensive.
Cam choice is open right now and I may be able to reuse the cam I am running (spinmonster spec 230/234) with fresh spring kit. Like the clutch I want to keep the cam street friendly. 550 to 560 NA RWHP is not that unusual these days, it's just expensive. Getting the right combination is the tricky part.
As far as clutches one recommendation I got was for a centerforce dual disc kit which should be more than adequate and reportedly has close to stock feel. Anybody have any input on the Centerforce? Since the car is not track raced I was hoping one of GM's OEM clutches would work and be less expensive.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 412
From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
on the older style ones, I 100% agree. We refused to install or run them for years but when the DYAD came out...it has been about as trouble free of a clutch I think as you will find.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 17
From: Lubbock Tx
We've had a great track record with the Dyad since it came out as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
I did not like the way the clutch engaged, very high on the pedal.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 404
Likes: 48
From: Wilsonville Oregon
I put the Monster LT1 In mine in prep for my 650rwhp build. So far So good. Not a noticeable difference in clutch pedal pressure. Still very street able! A little more sensitive as far as when it grabs but that's only based on going from my wore out stock clutch to this one. I would defiantly buy one again and recommend it to any one that was looking for a high HP clutch for a street car.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Good to hear you've liked it. I hate recommending clutches but I've been happy with mine too.
I'm not sure why they are so much more common in the Camaro world where C5/6's use Mantic's more. No problem with either.. just one of those things I guess.
I'm not sure why they are so much more common in the Camaro world where C5/6's use Mantic's more. No problem with either.. just one of those things I guess.
Last edited by schpenxel; Jun 21, 2016 at 08:52 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
OP I have 416 stroker in the power level you are looking for. Street manners are very important as I do not want to have a drivers meeting with someone who drives the car. That includes the weight of the clutch, pedal pressure & hi rpm clean shifts. The cam shaft had to see a couple changes to satisfy my street only requirements.
A dual disc made good sense to me from the old BB chev days. I did gave the LS7 clutch a try, that was in my 346 era. Then to a RPS twin street lite carbon, to high pedal pressure(stock hyd would not release properly) & a bit fussy when trying to modulate. As well the LT1 conversion that is mentioned in your thread, it had many issue's such vibration & slipping.
Currently I have a McLeod RST that was externally balance, it works exactly as advertised. Light pedal pressure, easy to modulate, shifts @ 7000-7200 nicely, heavy enough so no funny business to get rolling.
I did consider the Mantic, it's very light. I spoke with one resller that said they may help with the tune that solves the weight issue......"may" was not an option for me.
A dual disc made good sense to me from the old BB chev days. I did gave the LS7 clutch a try, that was in my 346 era. Then to a RPS twin street lite carbon, to high pedal pressure(stock hyd would not release properly) & a bit fussy when trying to modulate. As well the LT1 conversion that is mentioned in your thread, it had many issue's such vibration & slipping.
Currently I have a McLeod RST that was externally balance, it works exactly as advertised. Light pedal pressure, easy to modulate, shifts @ 7000-7200 nicely, heavy enough so no funny business to get rolling.
I did consider the Mantic, it's very light. I spoke with one resller that said they may help with the tune that solves the weight issue......"may" was not an option for me.
