Has anyone ever used their clutches ??


I need one, but with the holidays, can't really go with a southbend right now.

Was wondering if anyone has used their products.

They sell a stage 2 rated for 375-400 hp & 800 ft lbs, and a stage 3 rated for 500 hp & 1000 ft lbs. They use a Luk clutch, and put their own lining on it.

I talked to them on the phone, and they seem to be knowledgeable.

Here's one of their ebay ads.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-D...spagenameZWD1V


I'm thinking one of these would get me by till sometime next year, when if need be, I can replace it with something better. if what they rate it at is true, I may not need another one later on.

 

If it was me I would try to limp around with the clutch you have right now intil you can afford a better clutch. But on a nother note I'm sure their clutches would treat you good but I would rather pay extra and get the best.
DM01

 

I have to make a 1800 mile trip for the holidays, and I ain't sure I trust the clutch to last that long.

I do plan on a southbend in the future, but I look at this as a temp fix for now, and if it does hold, it may become more permanent.

I can afford it right now, but that would cut me closer than I want to be for the holidays.

 

Never heard of them . I was just driveing around the boise area and west caldwell etc asking about diesel truck "hotrod" stuff and those guys dont have a clue. Lot of brain dead unknowledgeable people in idaho! Huh ?? !! Aint never heard of Van Akin! Whut ...a Mad ecm. Huh . aint heard o dat! Got me some chrome mud flaps though!!

 

If you seriously arent planning on keeping it in there, then go to Napa, and buy one of their "heavy duty" clutches. My buddy put one in his 95 5 spd with a 0 plate, 370's, and 3k gsk, and it holds VERY well for what he has put it through, and the price. He has slipped it bad truck pulling twice, slipped it many times for other stuff, and pulls a trailer with it, and it is still doing good. It will slip some with him pulling a trailer at WOT, but for what he has in it, if you are only going temporary, then it may not be a bad choice. It would also cut you some slack on the price right now, but still get you through the holidays.Of course, the clutch you are looking at may last you for a long long time too, so who knows. Id say go ahead and go with the clutch you are looking at, and hope it holds if you just dont think you can swing a South Bend. Good luck!

Eric

 

Stage II is organic and feramic while stage III is all feramic,....hmm sounds like a SB clone. The warrenty looks like a pita and they don't cover you if you tow in the first 500 miles

You can get an oem clutch for less than 1/2 what that ebay clutch is listed for from dial a clutch or you can try the sb clone out and cross your fingers and hope you don't have any problems. It might be a good clutch- just don't expect the customer service SB offers.

Or,....."Merry Christmas honey- I thought you might want a southbend clutch for christmas"

 

Folks, The clutches in question are the 12" series. Same size as the OEM. The cost starts to shoot up when going to the 13" upgrades. We do offer the 12" in a performance level for a very nominal cost. It is our Rally series. This set up is good to 350 RWHP. We also carry the stock OEM clutches. I think the reason so many talk about the higher dollar clutches from us is because so many jump up the 13" kits that come with the flywheels, and for good reason. Making the 12" clutches hold the power without slipping is not the hard part. I used to offer the 12" clutches to handle 500 RWHP but failure soon occurred. The center portion of the clutch disc where the springs are would rip out, hence the reason to build the 13" upgrade. Not everyone needs a 13" upgrade! We feel the breaking point is 650 ft lbs. of torque coupled with towing in excess of 8000 lbs. Folks, anybody can build a clutch and throw some holding power numbers on it and sell it cheep without regards of what will happen down the road. That is the easy part. In my book, it's what will they do down the road that makes the difference.

Peter

 

Peter,

I agree with you completely.....it's just a money thing right now. I want one of your clutches, but right now, it just isn't really in the budget.

I'm not trying to knock or put down your products in any way. I just need something a bit less costly at this point. If I hadn't promised my daughter and parents we'd be there for xmas, I'd just baby the one I have for a month or so.

Sometimes, ya have to make do with what you can afford, until you can get what you need.

I'm already over your torque rating for the smaller clutches (and new injectors are in the plans), and I do tow 10k regularly.

And no, I don't really expect the level of customer service that Peter gives, but if it can get me thru another 6 months or so, it'd be worth it to me.

 

If your talking about installing a clutch and then replacing a couple months later just because of this trip I think I'd be lookin at a rental car for the trip.

 

rental cars can't haul 20 sheets of plywood........or the truck load of stuff that I will be bringing back.

 

U-HAUL. That's alot of money for one trip, not to mention it's a pain in the butt changing out these trannies.

 

Uhaul would be a lot of money too........and way worse fuel mileage ta boot.

 

obviously the south bend would be great...how ever I think the clutch you are looking at would be plenty for your set up. It cant hurt anyway right? I would give it a shot...alot of guys tend to over-buy just in the name of caution even though they would be fine with a lesser duty item.

 

That was kinda my thinking. If the stock clutch can last as long as it has, then I'd figure one with a better friction material and more clamp pressure would last at least as long.

I was really looking to see if anyone had used these things before, not so much a 'what do I do' thing.

mine was rated 215/450 @ flywheel (probably 175/360 @ rear wheels), and it is currently 288/664 at the rear wheels.

What did mine in the most was a couple (ok, maybe several) quick shifts.....didn't let rpm drop enough.

 

I say go for it...and be sure to let us know how it works out...I will bet you will be more then fine with that set up