Clutch issues

[Rory428]

Took my 428CJ powered 59 2 door sedan out to the local 1/4 mile dragstrip last weekend, here in Nova Scotia. I actually ran it once last year, when I was still in British Columbia, at Mission Raceway, but with the street tires, it was spinning and wheel hopping pretty badly, so I had to let of the gas each time. Anyhow, I ran it with a pair or 9x28" MT slicks, at 20 psi, since I was leaving pretty low RPM wise. First off, I gotta say, the car is both heavier and slower than I was hoping for, over 4000 pounds with me in it. The car has the near stock 428 that dynoed at 382 HP a few years ago, and over 475 ft/lbs of torque, all at below 5200 RPM.For better gas mileage, I currently have a 1850 Holley 600 vacuum carb on it, which has great street manners, and gets somewhat, kinda, almost decent gas mileage. The car has a small block wide ratio Toploader 4 speed from a 66 289 Fairlane, a McLeod Long style Street Pro 11" clutch, and 3.50 gears. The first pass was so-so , leaving at 2000 RPM, and sliding the clutch a bit, 60 foot was 2.19, and it ran 14.07ET @ 97 MPH, but I felt the clutch slipping a bit on each gear change. Each pass afterwards the clutch slipped more noticeably, not terribly, but definitely apparent. For run numbers 2 & 4, I came off the line at near idle, but it tended to hesitate and stumble some, so for the 4th pass, I let the clutch out at 2000 again, and then nailed the throttle, but it slipped noticeably all thru low gear, as well as each gear change, so I parked it for the rest of the weekend, and just ran the Fairmont. With the 3.50 gears, I was hitting 4th gear just before the finish line, so I plan to try the car again, with 4.30s in a few weeks, which should also make life a bit easier on the clutch. Just wondering if I should consider McLeods "Super" Street Pro clutch over the winter, or any other thoughts. I like the current clutch on the street, pedal effort is good, and other than an occasional bit of clutch chatter while backing up, it`s generally pretty nice to live with, in the 5000 miles I have put on the car so far. Funny, for years my daily driver/bracket car was a 302 Fairmont with a T5 and 3.55 gears, that ran low 13s and high 12s , using a stock replacement 10 1/2" Dynapak clutch, although that car was 800 pounds lighter, had a 3.35 low gear ratio, and much less torque.

[blykins]

Rory, that Street Pro clutch kit is rated at 350 hp.  With the power your 428 is making, combined with the sticky tires, and heavy vehicle weight, I can see why it's giving up. 

The Super Street Pro is rated for 500-525 and would be a much better choice.  It would be streetable and you wouldn't notice the friction material.  You could also go with a RAM HDX series clutch kit, rated at 450 hp and the disc is organic material on both sides. 

[Rory428]

Brent, thank, do you know if the pressure plates are the same for the Street Pro and Super Street Pro? I only have 5000 street miles, and a few mild 1/4 mile passes on this clutch, so if I could just change the disc, that would be nice. In my older McLeod catalog, it said the Street Pro was rated to 400 HP, but I guess my combination of weight, gear ratio, and torque is not ideal for a happy clutch.

[blykins]

Yes sir, the plates are the same, it’s just a disc change.  Yours should be organic on both sides, the SSP will be organic on one side and sintered bronze/aluminum on the other side.

[BattlestarGalactic]

I don't know the model numbers, but when the black car needed a clutch a few years back I opted for a "dual friction" disc(using a new RAM PP I had).  It works well, though the car will never see slicks and around town it is just a tire smoker if you try applying any power.  The blue truck runs the vintage CF dual friction clutch from 25 yrs ago.  Never a problem, even when I did put a set of slicks on it.  Though both vehicles do have some decent gearing(black car 3.89, truck 4.56).

A friend ran his '87 Foxbody for years on a Motorsport clutch, breaking into the 11's.  That is when it started to not keep up and he also put a DF disc in it and ran it for years after without issue.

[TomP]

I have had decent luck just running the stock Ford clutch or normal aftermarket replacement. The one in the ramp truck never slipped and that was over 5500 lbs and huge rpm drops between gears. It was just the standard Dynapak 11" car replacement clutch without the '"hammerhead" counterweights.

[Rory428]

I have had decent luck just running the stock Ford clutch or normal aftermarket replacement. The one in the ramp truck never slipped and that was over 5500 lbs and huge rpm drops between gears. It was just the standard Dynapak 11" car replacement clutch without the '"hammerhead" counterweights.

Tom, I also had great luck with a DynaPak 11" stock style replacement clutch in my 10,000 + pound F350 car hauler. Of course the trucks 390 made about have the power of my 428, plus the truck had 4.10 gears, and a low geared NP425 truck 3 speed. I also was not trying to get the truck off the line with slicks, either. Brent, is it possible to buy just the dual friction clutch disc? It is a 11", 1 1/16"x10 spline small input Toploader, with a Long style PP.

[blykins]

I have had decent luck just running the stock Ford clutch or normal aftermarket replacement. The one in the ramp truck never slipped and that was over 5500 lbs and huge rpm drops between gears. It was just the standard Dynapak 11" car replacement clutch without the '"hammerhead" counterweights.

Tom, I also had great luck with a DynaPak 11" stock style replacement clutch in my 10,000 + pound F350 car hauler. Of course the trucks 390 made about have the power of my 428, plus the truck had 4.10 gears, and a low geared NP425 truck 3 speed. I also was not trying to get the truck off the line with slicks, either. Brent, is it possible to buy just the dual friction clutch disc? It is a 11", 1 1/16"x10 spline small input Toploader, with a Long style PP.

Yes sir, they are part number 260531.

[My427stang]

Took my 428CJ powered 59 2 door sedan out to the local 1/4 mile dragstrip last weekend, here in Nova Scotia. I actually ran it once last year, when I was still in British Columbia, at Mission Raceway, but with the street tires, it was spinning and wheel hopping pretty badly, so I had to let of the gas each time. Anyhow, I ran it with a pair or 9x28" MT slicks, at 20 psi, since I was leaving pretty low RPM wise. First off, I gotta say, the car is both heavier and slower than I was hoping for, over 4000 pounds with me in it. The car has the near stock 428 that dynoed at 382 HP a few years ago, and over 475 ft/lbs of torque, all at below 5200 RPM.For better gas mileage, I currently have a 1850 Holley 600 vacuum carb on it, which has great street manners, and gets somewhat, kinda, almost decent gas mileage. The car has a small block wide ratio Toploader 4 speed from a 66 289 Fairlane, a McLeod Long style Street Pro 11" clutch, and 3.50 gears. The first pass was so-so , leaving at 2000 RPM, and sliding the clutch a bit, 60 foot was 2.19, and it ran 14.07ET @ 97 MPH, but I felt the clutch slipping a bit on each gear change. Each pass afterwards the clutch slipped more noticeably, not terribly, but definitely apparent. For run numbers 2 & 4, I came off the line at near idle, but it tended to hesitate and stumble some, so for the 4th pass, I let the clutch out at 2000 again, and then nailed the throttle, but it slipped noticeably all thru low gear, as well as each gear change, so I parked it for the rest of the weekend, and just ran the Fairmont. With the 3.50 gears, I was hitting 4th gear just before the finish line, so I plan to try the car again, with 4.30s in a few weeks, which should also make life a bit easier on the clutch. Just wondering if I should consider McLeods "Super" Street Pro clutch over the winter, or any other thoughts. I like the current clutch on the street, pedal effort is good, and other than an occasional bit of clutch chatter while backing up, it`s generally pretty nice to live with, in the 5000 miles I have put on the car so far. Funny, for years my daily driver/bracket car was a 302 Fairmont with a T5 and 3.55 gears, that ran low 13s and high 12s , using a stock replacement 10 1/2" Dynapak clutch, although that car was 800 pounds lighter, had a 3.35 low gear ratio, and much less torque.

Rory, I am not fond of that Street Pro at all, so I agree, go with a better McLeod or Ram.  I just did a low-riser 397 dual quad for a local guy.  Nothing fancy, likely 425 HP or so, a rowdy 4 speed Galaxie and the Street Pro was done in short order.  It disintegrated, there likely was some owner buffoonery, but not it still just glazed and cooked.   I would have recommended more clutch, but he picked it on his own during the engine install.

I run McLeod dual friction in mine, but almost every one that has left here for stroker Mustangs used a Ram HD and they feel good, pedal pressure isn't bad, and so far, in 500+ hp street cars, have be amazingly un-noticeable.  I would be careful only replacing the disk though, if it was slipping, there may have been some heat there and might be wise to send the PP back to be checked out or replace it

One thing with Ram though, they put the metallic side to the flywheel, a stock iron wheel may not like the aggressive side against iron, so if you are running a stock flywheel, it could get beat up a bit.  I believe they even state that they recommend a billet wheel.  McLeod changes their design now and then, but both of mine have the metallic toward the clutch cover.

[Rory428]

Ross, I am kinda partial to McLeod, I have been running their Soft Lok clutches in my drag cars for almost 25 years, plus they are the major sponsor of the BC Super Shifter series that I had been involved with for 25 years. I do have a McLeod billet steel flywheel in my 59 already, it and the Street Pro clutch were all new when I installed them last year. The clutch has never slipped badly, but rather noticed under racing conditions. Of course I won`t know how good  or bad, the flywheel and pressure ring look until I pull it apart in November or so. Gotta admit, the whole idea of a dual friction clutch disc still seems a bit strange to me, wouldn`t you think that if one side has better grip than the other side, that the weaker side would still want to slip at it`s limit, even though the other is still up to the task? But, Hey, if it really works....

[KMcCullah]

Took my 428CJ powered 59 2 door sedan out to the local 1/4 mile dragstrip last weekend, here in Nova Scotia. I actually ran it once last year, when I was still in British Columbia, at Mission Raceway, but with the street tires, it was spinning and wheel hopping pretty badly, so I had to let of the gas each time. Anyhow, I ran it with a pair or 9x28" MT slicks, at 20 psi, since I was leaving pretty low RPM wise. First off, I gotta say, the car is both heavier and slower than I was hoping for, over 4000 pounds with me in it. The car has the near stock 428 that dynoed at 382 HP a few years ago, and over 475 ft/lbs of torque, all at below 5200 RPM.For better gas mileage, I currently have a 1850 Holley 600 vacuum carb on it, which has great street manners, and gets somewhat, kinda, almost decent gas mileage. The car has a small block wide ratio Toploader 4 speed from a 66 289 Fairlane, a McLeod Long style Street Pro 11" clutch, and 3.50 gears. The first pass was so-so , leaving at 2000 RPM, and sliding the clutch a bit, 60 foot was 2.19, and it ran 14.07ET @ 97 MPH, but I felt the clutch slipping a bit on each gear change. Each pass afterwards the clutch slipped more noticeably, not terribly, but definitely apparent. For run numbers 2 & 4, I came off the line at near idle, but it tended to hesitate and stumble some, so for the 4th pass, I let the clutch out at 2000 again, and then nailed the throttle, but it slipped noticeably all thru low gear, as well as each gear change, so I parked it for the rest of the weekend, and just ran the Fairmont. With the 3.50 gears, I was hitting 4th gear just before the finish line, so I plan to try the car again, with 4.30s in a few weeks, which should also make life a bit easier on the clutch. Just wondering if I should consider McLeods "Super" Street Pro clutch over the winter, or any other thoughts. I like the current clutch on the street, pedal effort is good, and other than an occasional bit of clutch chatter while backing up, it`s generally pretty nice to live with, in the 5000 miles I have put on the car so far. Funny, for years my daily driver/bracket car was a 302 Fairmont with a T5 and 3.55 gears, that ran low 13s and high 12s , using a stock replacement 10 1/2" Dynapak clutch, although that car was 800 pounds lighter, had a 3.35 low gear ratio, and much less torque.

I think for puting around, the Street Pro is great. Nice pedal. I ran one behind a 390 in my Highboy. With a NP425. It slipped some when I pulled a trailer. The only other fancy clutch I've tried was a 12" Centerforce DF behind my 504. Dumping the clutch at 5k. I've heard a ton of negative things about the DF too. It slipped some but took the spanking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO7d0e5jirM

[MeanGene]

Ah, in the old days it was so simple- put in a Zoom clutch, and within a week your clutch crossarm would turn into a pretzel. Straighten it out, and weld a strap around it. Then the pivot bushings...

[wayne]

The good old days we all had one hell of left leg but dog tracked when we walked.

[frnkeore]

Does anyone remember the 4500 lb Hayes clutch of the '60's?