I've been doing a little sorting of the new 825 hp combo since I got it running. One of the things that surfaced was that the old Centerforce that has served me so well has finally reached its' HP limit. They say it's good to about 700 hp and it was, but not 800!

During shakedown runs I found that if I flatfooted it in second/third gear it would try to slip. If I rolled into it it was fine and as RPM climbed the centrifugal assist seemed to hold well, but it just wasn't enough at lower rpm.

So after talking to lots of folks I decided to use a Mcleod Street Twin. Mark (ML67) and Steve ( 542C2) use them and have had great luck behind their 540's. They both told me I was bound to need one sooner or later, and they were right. Since Steve has put 1192 RWHP through his with no slippage and Mark has like 10 years on his, I figure I'll be OK.

I had them custom build me one with 1600# of static pressure instead of the 1400# stock setup as a little insurance. They swear it's good for 1000 hp plus and Steve's was holding it with only the 1400#'s. I think he just kicked his up to around 1800# in anticipation of that ungodly 632 Big Chief he's building. I figure I'll be safe splitting the difference.

I seriously considered using a sintered iron race deal with a slipper type pressure plate to help get it out of the hole. I've used race clutches before on the street before with good results. I know lotsof folks run the sintered ones and the deciding factor seems to be how much race...and how much street? They work great for a "Saturday Night Special" where you drive it up town and hang out, or even just get on the road and drive. The problem area is the inevitable (for me living in Houston) traffic jam. In that situation they are so aggressive and heat up so much they essentially will "turn" your flywheel by the time you get out of traffic in stop and go stuff.

So I decided to stay with my original theme for the car, and use the Street Twin. I want it to be reliable and bulletproof and still very easy to drive on the street. I have had the "red light"bandits and thinly disguised race cars with license plates..this one is different.

I got the clutch/flywheel assy in yesterday and I can tell you it's a work of art. The quality is fantastic and the folks at Mcleod were great to deal with. If it turns out to drive as well and hold HP as well as I plan, I'll be a happy camper!

Plus...it gets me a step closer to making some real runs!


JIM


PS- While driving it a few days ago, a shift arm broke internally in the Doug Nash for 3/4th gears. I drove home using 1/2 and 5th. Sounds like a bad deal, but at least it broke BEFORE I was about to pull clutch anyway. I sure would have been upset if it broke the day AFTER and I had to pull it again! Also luckily, Richmond parts interchange and the new replacement arms are made much better than the OEM ones. Trans is all re-assembled (put in new synchros for the heck of it) and ready to reinstall.
_______

 

Great news, I am sure I will have to get one also. I agree the Centerforce Dual Friction is as much as you can ask for out of a street clutch, handled 700 + HP in yours and 625 rwhp in mine with nitrous packing on the tourque.

I am anxiously awaiting your install and driving experiances with the new one.

 

I got my twin disk about 2 months ago. I agree, it is a very sweet looking setup. spent a couple hours playing with it :). But then I sent it in with the rest of my crap to get balanced, it came back with a couple weld marks on the face of it :( ruined that perfect look. But at least "I assume" it's at a absolute perfect balance with my engine now. All it's waiting on is a scatter shield, "which I hope to buy tomarrow from a fellow corvette forum member. then my engine can actually be placed in the car. WHO HOOOOO!!!!!

 

They are a work of art. So red you can almost taste the cherry flavor in your mouth.

Too bad it's gotta get covered up with an ugly old bellhousing!

427 hotrod- That's what all engine bays should look like. Way :cool: :chevy

 

You have been busy again.

McLeod recommends that you drive the car easy for 500 miles before you abuse the clutch. Are you going to do that? (I didn't.)

I just want to know when you are going to race that thing. I can't imagine having a car like that with all that power and not finding out what it will run in the quarter. :D

Keep us posted!

Steve

 

Steve....

You're asking *ME* that question? Seems like you're throwing back at me what I've been ragging on you about! :lol:

We gotta get yours out in the sunshine and put a little wear on those FRONT tires too! Can't race that dyno forever!

Seriously, I put enough miles on it where I felt comfortable with all the changes I've made and was just starting to really exercise the motor a little when the clutch issue appeared.

Hopefully I'll have that behind me when I finish up the installation tonight.

I assume they are talking "clutch engagements" to seat everything a little, which will be easy to do on one trip to a Houston Cruise In on Sat night. After that...look out on the way home!

After a little "street tuning" I'll be planning a track trip real soon. It's getting cooler down here finally, so the time is getting right.

There's a Fastest Street Vette in TX deal coming up that would be a blast, but I'm not sure about the roll cage rules.

If i can "herd" this thing down the track, it's going to be fun!

JIM