Advices On Performance Clutch

[jwako1]

Clutch is goin out on my 86. I need some advice on a good clutch without gettin crazy on the price. I'm planning on drag racing it a bit so I'm gonna need a reliable one. I have a dual disc Mc Cleod on my 96,works great but a bit pricey. I'm not sure if Centerforce makes one , if so , how does it work on the 2.3?

[indiana dave]

You can do a search and find a lot of info. here.
I have a Ford Motorsport clutch and pressure plate, and it's holding up great. It's kinda "grabby" for the missus though. (not kind to passengers necks). It's also a minor pain in traffic, as it's hard to slip the clutch. But that's a price you pay for performance.

[jwako1]

Dave

Thaks for the response bro. Have you ever thrown slicks on your 85, and if so how well did it take the hit?

[NY eric]

Clutch

The FMS is no longer available. If some one has one lying arround you are in luck. I havent been able to get one from motorsports for the last 6 months. I currently have a centerforce dual friction. If you like a stiff pedal (he he he said stiff) it isnt bad. It is real graby but it isnt holding in 4th at 22psi. I added a lot to my car over the last few years and now the 40 K clutch is about had it. I am putting in a spec stage 2 on friday I will post to let youknow the difference.

[indiana dave]

Oops, Didn't know it was disscontinued... Bummer.
I guess the Spec and Centerforces clutches are your only high performance options now.
No, I haven't run slicks. I have really bad tires right now, but the job situation is looking brighter, so I'll probably spend some $$$ on good tires soon. BTW, I autocross and open-track mine, and very occasionally hit the drag strip. Haven't been there in over 3 years though. That's just not what these cars are designed for.

[NY eric]

re bummer

Yea I started dealing in motorsports stuff a few months ago. The clutch was droped for this year. My buddy is trying to ge the original MFG to talk to me. I cant wait untill then so I am puttin in the spec. With the members deal it is still more expensive than the FMS but it is supposidly able to hold a little more. FMS is dropping a lot of the 2.3 stuff. the cams are on the disc list. I just bought a bunch of thoes for the shelf.

But talk to paul on the clutch or Spec directly. they can find something that will work for you. I give centerforce a big thumbs down. but that is coming frome some one who likes turbonetics stuff. LOL

[svobud]

I use a SPEC stage II in my 9L ... and it works great (and I'm not nice on it). Very soft pedal application. I don't drag race - so I can't comment on how well it would take to a pair of slicks.

[turbizzy]

FMS clutch gone?

Damn, i guess i should have been more careful on mine as it is now slipping anytime i build boost. I run 18psi to 20 with race gas whenever i drag it (I also do a whole lotta burnouts and donuts too ). So NYeric, your saying that your dual friction centerforce isn't holding at 22psi, thats amazing isn't that supposed to be the mack daddy of clutches?

So to sum it up, what it the preffered clutch for a daily driver SVO with lots of burnouts and with slicks (or not) with occasional drag use? I hear alot of the stock clutch being a good one.

[NY eric]

if I had to do it all again

I put my centerforce DualFriction in in 93. It had about 40k on it. i paid to have it replaced this time( I am tired of working on my back). now I know why it was slipping. It wasdown to the rivits tearing the b-jesus out of my flywheel. The pedal is soo frigging stiff (god help you in traffic). I have about 100 miles on the spec stage 2 and I like the forgivness it has over the DF. I will let you know about the launches and burnouts once I hit the recomended 500mile mark breakin. but bud is right it has a soft grab but in 4th i can hit 22psi and no sliping at all. I would say this is a realy streetable clutch compared to the DF.

[gbeaird]

If someone can provide a P/N, then try calling your common mailorder megaparts vendors and see if they have any laying around in the dark corners of their warehouses. I got mine about the time the FMS catalog was dropping the P/N from the parts lists. Summit had a clutch and PP.

I find the FMS clutch to be quite nice. It doesn't, to me seem 'grabby'. I am able to slip it nicely when launching for a solo II autocross run. They frown on you spinning the tires, especially at National Tour or Nationals events (warming the tires).

HTH.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO, G Stock,
Pearland, Texas

[KevinK]

The SVO clutch is supposed to be grabby. Or more to the point it makes the passengers think you are not very good at driving a stick shift. I don't drive my car very often so I thought it was my lack of experience with the car.

The 84 clutch was probably obsoleted when they started using the Motorsport clutch in 86. For some reason I was lead to believe it was used for the 5.0 as well. I'm sure someone can comment on that and I don't quite believe it.

I have my original one stored in the Motorsport boxes. I'll have to see if I can find the numbers.

Any possibility of getting the old ones rebuilt?

[8T6 SVO]

Originally posted by KevinK

The 84 clutch was probably obsoleted when they started using the Motorsport clutch in 86. For some reason I was lead to believe it was used for the 5.0 as well. I'm sure someone can comment on that and I don't quite believe it.


Any possibility of getting the old ones rebuilt?

Kevin,

The 5.0 set up is completely different - different size and different input shaft spline.

You could get the old one rebuilt, but it would probably cost you $500.00.

8T6

[8T6 SVO]

FMS clutch

Originally posted by gbeaird
If someone can provide a P/N, then try calling your common mailorder megaparts vendors and see if they have any laying around in the dark corners of their warehouses. I got mine about the time the FMS catalog was dropping the P/N from the parts lists. Summit had a clutch and PP.

I've got a FMS clutch with less that 12,000 miles on it (it was replaced in my car at 18,000 miles). It still has part #'s on the friction surface. the part # is - E6ZX-7550-AA

[8T6 SVO]

FMS pressure plate

Here's the matching pressure plate. Part #E5ZX-7563-AA

[svobryan]

Clutch

i have the Tiny Avenger 8 puck race clutch in my 84 svo. it is not all that street friendly but it will hould under boost with no slipping. it doesn't even slipp when you are in a drivethru that is the only thing that i don't like about it but if you want performance you pay the price. but i still dont have but like 1500 miles in the clutch so i dont really know how long it will last? but if you want a clutch that will hold up under about anything the 8 puck race cluch from Tiny Avenger is the one!

Bryan