I'm looking at getting a valair ceramic single disc and wanted to know how you like it to play around with and tow with. I hear there grabby and very touchy but hold good. I tow a some and want something that won't slip when given power.

 

Dan @ Valair told me the Ceramic button clutches are either in or out and very sketchy when towing especially when trying to slip it.

I'd go with a Organic or Feramic single disc with a good load # pressure plate......

The 3rd gen clutch I have in the 93 has a #3300 lb pressure plate over a stock 1st gens #2800. The only thing is you will need a starter spacer and a 2001+ 6 speed flywheel to run a 6 speed clutch, which opens you up to more options.

also on Valair's site. Look at the 2nd gen 13" Conversions, As all the clutches there will work in a 1st gen, for some reason they don't list them in the 1st gen Section. This is what I was told by the owner of the company. I ended up going with a 3rd gen setup though.

I'm not too sure about the Ceramic full faced clutches, I have one in my gasser chevy and it's just as annoying as everyone makes the "Button" clutches sound

 

Mine has a ceramic clutch in it and it has its good and bad. Holds power great and the pedal is easy to push. It is a little grabby but if you raise the rpm to a 1000 or so it will slip and shake the whole truck. If you let off to hard with a trailer in tow it twists the frame like a big truck and you get some funny looks. Overall I think its great and worth the money.

 

Thinking about one too

 

I just put the valair 13" ceramic clutch in last weekend. I probably have 200 miles on it now mostly all stop and go and lots of shifting. At first it was really grabby, but as it has been engaged and disengaged and "broken in" it isn't as bad. I haven't towed with it yet, but just start out in 1st and you don't need it to slip anyways. Just empty I don't really have a problem starting in 2nd. Truck does shutter a little but the you are off.

Also there is a bit more peddle pressure than the stock sachs clutch. More than I was expecting.

So far I am happy with it, and should give me lots of room to grow is for some reason I find more power somewhere.

 

hey-Hey!!!,
I got the stock Luk for a 6spd HO. I already had the Gen 2 engine/trans spacer and the NV5600. It is a very smooth clutch; I can take off in 3rd w/o issue with 3.07's in the rear. I got the flywheel that needs a spacer for its ball bearing.
cheers,
Douglas

 

first of all, two words. LOVE IT! i got the 550hp ceramic button single from Valair. when its cold its alot more forgiving but as she heats up it gets grabbier and grabbier. If you sorta drop the clutch while shifting like i have on accident, it will amost break your neck, or inch forward in traffic, it will rattle your teeth out trying to slip it. first couple weeks i had the clutch, after the 500 mile break in, i got on it for the 1st time since the install. broke the rear diff's U joint. it will find a weak link if you have the power lol. Towing with it, ive never had an issue. Its actually kinda smooth on take offs, it still jerks and hops but not as much. Long story short, i bought it and ill never look back. any manuals in the future will get a ceramic clutch too.

 

Sorry not in a 1st gen, but I started out with the "550" full ceramic button from valair, and everyone is right. It is grabby, but does hold a bunch of power. Word of advice though, don't slip them! I tow a 7-8k lb camper, and it did seem a bit smoother if you give it some throttle while slipping the pedal out. I took this theory to the sled pull (12k on the clutch now) and destroyed the clutch with a 2nd gear launch. I thought the tires were slipping, but the ceramic fragments hanging out of the bell housing told me otherwise!

I talked to Dan, and he set me up with a 13" Kevlar/Ceramic setup for the same price, which is a bit smoother, and from what he told me much more durable for loaded driving. Kit comes with the starter spacer, flywheel and the HD ball bearing pilot. So far it's good, 15k on it now with a few of those towing the camper. Not sure if I want to test it with another sled pull, but it's taken all the abuse I've given it so far. Good luck.

 

I was thinking about getting a kevlar and ceramic but didn't no if it would work as good.

 

if you're talking about my broken parts i have them to prove it

 

I think he was saying "in his 98" which is not a first gen.

 

Yup, that's what I meant. If you want to compare broken part piles though... I've got quite a collection.

 

Thats what I got. I didn't want the chatter of a full ceramic. Holding fine so far.