Clutch???
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Clutch???
Hey my engine will be back soon and I am putting a new clutch in while the engine is out. My mechanic is tring to tell me to get a 11in borg and Beck? I don't know what borg and beck is... I was thinking of going with a centerforce. Any segestions or comments about clutches whould be helpful. By the way the clutch will be on a 350 sb w/ About 400hp and the clutch must be streetable. But then agin some people in here think 1500 hp is streetable.. you guys kick behind :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 1
From: NewCastle IN. USA
Re: Clutch??? (Cory1970)
I called the summit tech line for a clutch recommendation in my 70 LT-1 after burning up a stock style (within 1000miles). now I'm running a Zoom ceramic/kevlar job(not listed in their catalog). this is probably as far as I would go and still drive on the street. It holds no problem. but after 10 or so hard launch's I have to re-adjust the linkage (thats about once a year for me). it grabs a little sometimes on the street, thats why I wouldn't want anything more than that.
I also have a "center force dual friction" in the 86 vette, this is a pretty dang nice set up as far as street driving goes. I think you'll like it just fine.
I think the borg and beck is a "style" of clutch. there's also "diaphragm" and "long" style. just get a complete kit (clutch/pressureplate/ throwout bearing) for your car and you won't have to worry about it.
RJ
I also have a "center force dual friction" in the 86 vette, this is a pretty dang nice set up as far as street driving goes. I think you'll like it just fine.
I think the borg and beck is a "style" of clutch. there's also "diaphragm" and "long" style. just get a complete kit (clutch/pressureplate/ throwout bearing) for your car and you won't have to worry about it.
RJ
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: Clutch??? (Cory1970)
Go here for info on the Borg and Beck and others: http://www.ramclutches.com/Clutch%20...university.htm
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 1
From: NewCastle IN. USA
Re: Clutch??? (Flareside)
jegs has the center force dual friction for $260 - $275 (complete kit)that should fit your 70.
don't skimp on the clutch, unless you like pulling it back apart later.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Clutch??? (ol,RJ)
I would stick with the Centerforce. I am running one in my car and it is working very well. I had a Borg and Beck in a Camaro a few years ago. It was a vedry stiff clutch. It broke my clutch fork and was very hard on my leg. I took it out and put in a GM clutch and never had any more problems.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Re: Clutch??? (Gordonm)
I just bought a Ram Clutch today... i was told a the local speed shop. Barnette Performance, that is is better than a Centerforce II but not as stiff as a Centerforce dual friction...... I am not sure what to believe so I went a head and got the set. Any coments on Ram Clutches..... I still have the receit
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Re: Clutch??? (Cory1970)
i read that the ram has 30% more holding powe over stock and the centerforce II has 60%, the guy at the shop said to go with ram.. anybody got a sugestion while i can still return the clutch?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Clutch??? (Cory1970)
There are two Centerforce clutches. 1 that has 30% more holding pressure and 1 that has either 60 or 90 percent more. That is the Centerforce 2 clutch. I have the one that is 30% more and it holds everything I throw at it. It was not quite as expensive as the Centerforce 2. i don't have the exact cost but it was cheaper.
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Nashua NH
Re: Clutch??? (Gordonm)
I have a centerforce Dual Friction in mine. There are actually 3 Centerforce clutches; centerforce I has 30%, centerforce II has 60%, and the Dual Friction has 90% stonger holding power than stock. The way the Dual Friction clutch is designed, it has a row of connected metal inserts installed inside the pressure plate fingers that actually force them to defy centrifugal force...on a stock clutch, as you wind up the engine, centrifugal force will cause the diaphragm style clutch fingers to back off, causing the clutch to slip. These inserts force the clutch to remain applied.
As far as streetability goes, the pedal pressure is similar to the stock clutch (since it is still a diaphram style clutch). I have had mine in since last May...grabs nice, holds nicer, even at higher RPM's. The stock clutch had a tendency to slip after 4000 RPM's.
As far as the Ram or Zoom cluthes go, I have no experience with them so I don't know how well they perform, but I have had experience with ceramic cluthes. They last a long time, and they don't have a tendency to slip when hot like a stock clutch, but they are very grabby.
Hope this helps you!! :cheers:
As far as streetability goes, the pedal pressure is similar to the stock clutch (since it is still a diaphram style clutch). I have had mine in since last May...grabs nice, holds nicer, even at higher RPM's. The stock clutch had a tendency to slip after 4000 RPM's.
As far as the Ram or Zoom cluthes go, I have no experience with them so I don't know how well they perform, but I have had experience with ceramic cluthes. They last a long time, and they don't have a tendency to slip when hot like a stock clutch, but they are very grabby.
Hope this helps you!! :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,018
Likes: 2,262
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
Re: Clutch??? (Gordonm)
The Centerforce Dual Friction is a great piece. I ran Hays Borg& Beck clutches for years. They held great but it required lots of leg to operate them.
The 11" dual friction one I have is easier to push than the Motorsport replacement clutch in my old 5.0 Mustang. My wife can drive it with no problem.
I installed it in my car with the 427 and ran it three years. Lots of street driving and launches on slicks ( Lots of broken axle parts to prove it!). When i pulled it out to install the 540 last year it still looked brand new. I wiped it off and installed it behind the sucker and have run it all year. It hold 700+ hp and has never slipped yet and shifts clean.
It's the best clutch I've ever used on the street. No chatters at all and very smooth operation. Just pay attention to the instructions that come with it and measure everything just as it says.
I have a friend with a 10.5 in. Dual Friction one in his '65 Convertible with around 400 hp small block. It also is holding fine and is even easier to push.
Jim
The 11" dual friction one I have is easier to push than the Motorsport replacement clutch in my old 5.0 Mustang. My wife can drive it with no problem.
I installed it in my car with the 427 and ran it three years. Lots of street driving and launches on slicks ( Lots of broken axle parts to prove it!). When i pulled it out to install the 540 last year it still looked brand new. I wiped it off and installed it behind the sucker and have run it all year. It hold 700+ hp and has never slipped yet and shifts clean.
It's the best clutch I've ever used on the street. No chatters at all and very smooth operation. Just pay attention to the instructions that come with it and measure everything just as it says.
I have a friend with a 10.5 in. Dual Friction one in his '65 Convertible with around 400 hp small block. It also is holding fine and is even easier to push.
Jim