Help!! What Clutch Should I Run??

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66340SEDAN

66340SEDAN

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Ok guys and gals, I need help trying to decide on a clutch for my car!

First, here is what I have. 1966 Valiant, 340 with 340 heads, 2.02, 1.60 light weight valves, Isky Hyd cam .505/292, Rhoads lifters, Speed Pro pistons 9.5:1, Mopar M-1 intake with a 650 holley double pumper. I have 8 3/4 rear with mopar super stock springs, 4.10 gears and a sure grip. Will run Cheater slicks and street tires. I will use the car for street use and 1/4 mile track use, will also drive it hard like Ma Mopar designed it for!!

I want to use a centerforce clutch because I have heard nothing bad about them. Anybody use the dual friction clutch kit? I want a clutch that won't kill my foot but still hold up. Is this the one I should use? My buddy thinks this is overkill for my car and I should use the Centerforce 2 kit. Any help would be great!! Thanks, Keith.
 
Boy our combos are really kind of close. What bellhousing are you running?

Lee
 
I have a stock aluminum one and I also have a Lakewood scattershield. I have the stock one in now for mock-up. I have heard that the Lakewood has minor clearance problems. Not sure what one I will use for now.
 
Cool, so you are running a newer bellhousing that will take the a bigger clutch and pressure plate than the original early A-body bellhousing(like I am). Are you going to race this car?

Lee
 
Yes, my bellhousing is from a 1972 360. Clutch size is 10 1/2. What clutch are you running? I wish I could afford a aliminum flywheel, that would free up some horsepower. I plan on using my 66 for street use and track use, hopefully a lot of track use! My car is going to look old school. It is plain tan, stock interior with a bench seat, real tall old school Hurst shifter, plain tan steel wheels on the rear, 15x4 Tourq Thrust rims and gasser style tires on the front. I also used disc brakes from a 73 duster. I will also need to run a hood scoop. I ordered a 68 Hemi scoop from VFN fiberglass yesterday. I originally wanted to run a straight axle for that vintage look but I didn't want to give up the nice ride. I should have this car ready for the street in a couple of months!
 
I'm running the small stuff now. If I had the scatter shield I would probably just run that and be done with it. Do you want to sell it? Got any pictures of the car?

Lee
 
I will keep the scattershield for now, I may use it yet. I will try to get pictures up soon. I always want to do it but I never get around to doing it. Maybe I am just being lazy!
 
hi, the Mcleod B&B/long pressure plate is a very good setup. you can use the 200 or 300 series disc. the pressure plate can have any pressure you like.
the fingers have C/W brackets, can add extra C/W for lock up. I have ran these from 2200 # to 1400 # static pressure. mopar sells a L/W steel flywheel, it weighs 18 1/2 # made by Mcloed. the advantage of that wheel is it has B&B and long clutch patterns on it. this setup is not a parts breaker.
 
66340SEDAN said:
Anybody else have a suggestion?? Thanks, Keith.
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When I bought my car the fellow told me that it had the Centerforce clutch in it and it has the heavy duty bellhousing. Well I didn't think much about it and could tell that it was harder to push the clutch in more than normal it seems. I eventually got under the car and could tell that it had a aftermarket bellhousing of some sort. It looks as if it is made out of some kind of heavy duty steel. So I was happy about that but to sit at a red light for a period of time will make my leg tired so I usually throw it in neutral. If you are going to race the car alot then I would go with the kit that is more suitable for that but if you are going to drive the car often on the street then keep that in mind also.
 
mullinax95 said:
If you are going to race the car alot then I would go with the kit that is more suitable for that but if you are going to drive the car often on the street then keep that in mind also.
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I agree, I'm using a 10 in padel clutch without a spring hub. It's going to be harsh. I'm probably going to go centerforce once I start driving this thing.

Lee
 
I have a 340 4 speed 8 3/4 with 391gear. I have a stock clutch for a big block 409 AMC @ 10 1/2" Just got greased this past summer but was leaving SURE-GRIP marks for @ 2 city bus lengths long and great drivability.
 
fubar said:
I have a 340 4 speed 8 3/4 with 391gear. I have a stock clutch for a big block 409 AMC @ 10 1/2" Just got greased this past summer but was leaving SURE-GRIP marks for @ 2 city bus lengths long and great drivability.
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I'm new to the manual transmission world.

What do you mean by "greased"?
 
I went with a Centerforce 2 pressure plate and disc. Also used several parts from Brewers, works awesome! Very nice to drive on the street, will see how it works this spring at the strip!
 
Centerforce has basically 3 options. I, II, Dual Friction.

I know I wouldn't run the first one but what would be better for street performance with about 400hp......Centerforce II, or Dual Friction?

I think the Dual Friction would be to much pedal effort for the street.

What do you think?
 
mullinax95 said:
Centerforce has basically 3 options. I, II, Dual Friction.

I know I wouldn't run the first one but what would be better for street performance with about 400hp......Centerforce II, or Dual Friction?

I think the Dual Friction would be to much pedal effort for the street.

What do you think?
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Go with the Centerforce II! It works awesome on the street, very smooth and soft pedal, almost like a new car! My dad has a 66 Barracuda, his is all stock and his clutch is a lot harder to drive on the street, he has a harder pedal than my performance set-up.
 
I have the D/F in my '73 4spd Cuda. The clutch pedal didn't come all the way back up. That was the only issue I remember. It was like lazy. I installed add spring to help. On the pedals arm.
 
agree on centerforce .I used a 10.5 hayes with 3100 lb pp and after waiting at the light in gear my leg would start to shake from the tension hahaaaa,worked great, hooked hard, just use neutral anywhere you have to sit and wait
 
66340SEDAN said:
Go with the Centerforce II! It works awesome on the street, very smooth and soft pedal, almost like a new car! My dad has a 66 Barracuda, his is all stock and his clutch is a lot harder to drive on the street, he has a harder pedal than my performance set-up.
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I talked to Wayne at Brewer's Transmission and told him all about my application and intended use. I was going to get the Centerforce II but he thought other wise I guess. He sold me the Mcleod 10.95 clutch and the McLeod Diaphragm pressure plate. He said I will have to remove the over center spring. I haven't installed anything yet so I will find out one day. Wayne should know more about what I need more than I do because I've always ran automatics. I hope so anyways!
 
ive got a hays clutch in mine and it worked great until i got my quick time pro's now it wants to slip every chance it gets! whats up with that? it will hook if i am really hard on it and just drop it like its hot! anyone else have this problem?
 
V8-valiant said:
ive got a hays clutch in mine and it worked great until i got my quick time pro's now it wants to slip every chance it gets! whats up with that? it will hook if i am really hard on it and just drop it like its hot! anyone else have this problem?
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I'm kind of new to the 4-speed world. I would like to know the answer to that myself.

I'll bump this back to the top and maybe someone will see it.
 
from what i know,, all the center force utilize roller assist type technology on there presure plates...diaphram design,,

i use the dual friction center force,,and center force steel fly wheel,,i for get its weight but you want a heavy fly wheel on the street,,,for traction,,,

i run the dual friction with a 33 tall 22 wide hoosier,,,quick time pros and also street radials,,with no slipage,,,4;56 gears,,blower motor,,,

ide go with the lake wood if you have one,, if you dont the better choice would be to find a older ansen scatter shield ,,they were made to fit the early A body i currently run one of them,,, but even beter is the new QUICK time scatter shield,,very small in the places it needs to be,, im sure this scatter shield from quick time wil fit even better then the ansen,,, the lake wood is a bit tight on an early A,,, and a pain to use factory clutch linkage,, you wil have to make a bracket for the Z bar with the lake wood,,,

i just got my quick time scatter shield fro the small block mopar to tremec 5 speed i wil be doing in the near future,,,,
 
well now i will be replacing this hays junk with something else, its slipping so bad i almost didnt make it home. and only 2000 miles on it - ill never buy another hays product!
 
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