Im looking at a Southbend Dual Disc clutch,the Street Comp 3600# with 12 ceramic buttons, to put in my daily driver 6 spd truck. A few questions about the driveabilty of it to those of you who run one or one that is similar.

How is the pedal pressure?
Is there a lot of annoying chatter?
Are 2nd gear starts at all possible?

I dont want to under-do my clutch but I also dont want it to be a PITA to drive every day. I have the new quad race box on the way and am going to be in the process of stepping into big boy territory around 600hp +/-. Is this a good clutch?


Oh, btw, no towing at all considered into this.

 

I have never driven or sold a 3600 but I have sold and installed 15+ 3850's. I know the 3850 is maybe a little much for a street only driver but I have had one in my truck for 5 years or better. I pull trailers and work the truck every day. The pedal pressure on the 3850 is pretty stiff for stop and go driveing but I would think the 3600 would be a lot better. In my opinion the 3850 is just as driveable and the single disc FE but with more pedal pressure. If I stop sled pulling I would go with a 3600. I actually have a 3600 P plate sitting in my shop but I have never put it in yet.
DM01

 

The 3250 12cb is the best choice for daily driving. It is quiet for a DD & holds 600hp+. I tow with mine daily & sled pull a few times a year....awesome clutch for daily driving. It isn't jumpy like most DD clutches.

 

Roan, what Valair do you have? Is it slipping?

 

Love the 3850 Dont even look back!!!!
Brandon

 

Its just the Organic stock replacement clutch. Not yet

 

if your worried about the clutch being graby haisley sells a twin disk with organis disks there not grabby at all feels just like stock clutch. it should hold 500 hp with no prob you just cant sled pull it at all. if you going to get a sb id get the 3850 its the same $ as the 3600 the only diff is a slight increase in pedal press over the 3600 and it will hold a lot more. all dual disk clutches will rattle some more than others. and all button clutches are grabby...

 

I like the 3850 becasue I have put mine throught heck and I know it will hook. 5k rpm 4th gear lo hooks don't even faze a 3850 FB or a CB
DM01

 

I've got the 6 button 3600 clutch. Drive it everyday. Pedal is stiff compared to a new truck, but honestly, I don't notice how heavy it is when I only drive my truck. Stop and go is no problem for it. From what I can tell, my clutch isn't too noisy, but another member who has one just screams. Maybe its luck of the draw? Starts are as smooth as you want them to be. I can dump the clutch in 3rd at 3000 rpm and it'll pull the engine way down. It can definitely hold.

 

Ok it looks like its down to what Pressure Plate load will be best for me.

I tow nothing.
I dont plan on ever hooking to a sled or hooking chains.(Sober)

I just want something thats easy to drive daily,and will hold for playing around on the street and on the dyno at close to 600hp is my goal.

 

Call Peter @ SBC for a recommendation- I think a FE will do what you're looking for. Peter can up the plate pressure for more hp.

I have the exact clutch you're looking at and its a pita to get into gear, shifts slower, and will put a hurting on my leg in stop and go traffic. But on the other hand it has yet to slip after 1/2 dozen 4th gear launches, dozens of 3rd and 2nd gear launches, and dozens of power shifts.

 

I run a 3250 12CB everyday in my tow rig...pedal effort is OK, heavier than stock, but non of the drivers ever complain about the pedal feel or grabbiness of the clutch. I had 100K miles on the clutch when I had Peter rebuild it, most of it at 350-450hp and towing up to 35-38K gross weight. The hubs were trashed when I pulled it out (my mistake)) but the clutch facing looked like it had another 25-30K left on it!

Chris

 

I've had several DD units in my rig now...3600, 3850 x2, and back to a 36-something sprung-hub unit Peter built for me. Used them with both stock hydraulics and SBC hydraulics. All my clutches have been kinda hard to get into 1st reverse, and sometimes 2nd. It's easier if I quickly pop into 4th then it will slide into 1st and 2nd. Grabby, yes, there's no getting around that with botton clutches. Heavy pedal pressure, yes, it feels like I'm driving an old 60's muscle car.
I love that the clutch holds to anything I throw at it, but it is a PITA as a daily driver as I put 60-75mi just on my commute ( and seattle/tacoma is a heavy traffic area). But I built this truck for pulls and some drags, so I have to live with it.
But if I was building a daily driver street rig, I'd go with the 3250 clutch. My buddy has that and it's a night and day difference soooooo much nicer to drive than my truck.
I am constantly reminded how stiff my pedal pressure is as I drive customers' trucks with single disc clutches everyday here at the shop.

 

Thanks for the info y'all.

 

I've had 3 South Bend clutches. OFE, the petal pressure was less than stock. I personally thought it was too soft but most like that. I underestimated my hp goals so I moved up to the 3600 12cb. I really liked it for a street driven truck. Petal pressure seemed about like stock to me, not bad at all. Broke the tranny, so I figured I'd ship the clutch up to Peter for a freshen up (still really looked like new) and after talking, Peter upgraded me to the 3850 12cb sprung hub. Man, I love this clutch. Petal pressure may be slightly above the 3600, but if it is, it isn't by much. This clutch is just right! I love the way it drives on the street and it still isn't that grabby to me. I don't even think it's that much grabbier than the OFE. If you don't want to worry about maxing out your horsepower ie., nitrous, etc., and don't mind a little extra petal pressure get the 3850.

Now all that being said, I've heard others that said the petal pressure is brutal and exhausting with the 3600, but I disagree, it can't be much more than stock. People do have different perceptions so keep that in mind.....I don't drive in too much stop in go either. Make sure and upgrade your hydraulics while you are at it if you go 3600 or bigger.