I am looking at clutches for my 2004 CTD, and wanted to know what you all thought of the two clutches that I was considering.

As far as how it will be used, I do a little towing. Usually this will involve towing trailers fully loaded with firewood in the fall. Also, I do not use the vehicle to race, sled pull or snowplow.

I am also not the only one that drives the truck, so I was looking for a clutch that would not have excessive pedal pressure or excessive rattle(similar to stock).

As far as modifications, I have an intake, exhaust, 4.56 gears, 37" tires, and a Smarty JR set at the 100 HP level. I neither want, nor plan any further performance enhancements.

Since my stock motor is a 305 HP, I would estimate the motor is about 405+ HP with the Smarty.

Well what would you recommend?

 

I have the OFE and it's been great. My old one was slipping when I went the Crazy Larry which gave me 443 HP on the dyno.
The OFE is the slightest bit more grabby than the stock one but feels pretty much like the stocker as far as pedal feel.
It's rated at 450 HP I think but I know a guy who ran it with his 580HP and it held up fine.
Can't go wrong with SB I don't think...

 

I went with the OFE. Smarty also. It could hold all I threw at it. The DTR store has very good pricing on SBend. PM or call Lary Elis.

Chris

 

Why are you comparing two different models? Valair makes a organic ferramic that is the equivalent to the SB OFE. Wouldn't it make sense to compare apples to apples?

 

I am comparing the SB OFE to the Valair Kevlar/Ceramic because I heard that Valair is eventually going to discontinue the Organic/Feramic in favor of the Kevlar/Ceramic.

If SB had a Kevlar/Ceramic, that is what I would really prefer to compare.

 

Got ya. I hadn't heard about the O/F from Valair going away. I better hurry cause that is what I plan on getting.

 

Bump this to the top in hopes of some more replies.

 

Happy with the new CON OFE

 

I had an OFE installed within the last 3 to 4k miles. It's grabby and irritating. It doesn't slip so I'll live with it but I'd rather not have to. On my 97 I put in a Luk clutch and I like that one. No slip easy pedal. I was told there wasn't a clutch for my application.

 

Are you sure you're not talking about the FE?
You're the first person I've heard say anything bad about the OFE, mine's NOT grabby and sure isn't irritating.

You don't like the 5600 either¿

 

Got the OFE and its been amazing what its taken. It slips on 4.3 past sw5 but I imagine its at its limit, on 4.4 sw5 it won't slip, even with the mp-8 cranked.

 

stay away from kevlar if possible, kevlar on a clutch that get hot (slipping) will pretty much turn the kevlar to ash and it wont hold up. this is what i received as a response from peter.

 

The 5600 works fine but shifts for beans. As a kid I grew up driving a KW with a 4 and a 4 cable connection shift linkage it shifted worse than my 5600.

 

I have the OFE and like it. The pedal feel is slightly stiffer than stock but not that noticible. The biggest difference between the stocker and the OFE is that the OFE bounces/jerks more in reverse, especially if you're on an incline. I've gotten used to it and now can "drive around it". I believe the newer OFEs can hold 525hp. I haven't been able to slip mine. I also tow fairly regularly and other than backing up, the feel of the clutch is the same as stock.

FYI - I changed my stock hydraulics to South Bend parts and now my tranny shifts significantly smoother.

 

Had my ofe for over a year and loved it! It was holding in excess of 500hp and felt as close to stock as could be expected for a high performance clutch.Finally modded my truck past its limits and had to go to a DD.I would recommend it to anyone looking for more holding power with close to stock feel.The grabbiness in reverse is gonna come with any aftermarket clutch that can handle the torque of a turned up Cummins.