What center force clutch to buy?

Discussion in 'U-shift em' started by AlaskaBuick, Mar 23, 2015.

  1. AlaskaBuick

    AlaskaBuick Well-Known Member

    Hello All 4 gear fans.

    We are installing a Trishield built 470 roller motor in my Dads Ole 68 GS 4 gear. I have not played with clutches in years. However I did do some searching and seen a lot of good feed back on the Center force Clutch line.

    I see a wide variety and models of the center force clutches and need to narrow it down to what one to buy. The motor produces 614 hp and a gob of torque as we all know about these cars. Car will be 99% street driven and maybe see a couple passes at the track in its life.

    Dad is 75 and mom is 70 and will both be driving the car (she is actually pissed we a putting a nasty motor in her driver, but she will like it, roller motor), so I like the posts I see on the light clutch aspect.

    Thanks Guys!

    Den
     
  2. clutchracer

    clutchracer Well-Known Member

    I'm using the dual friction center force. Really like it. Might need to double check and see how many horsepower it's rated for because you have way more than me.
     
  3. TheSilverBuick

    TheSilverBuick In the Middle of No Where

    I'm typically a fan of Center Force clutches, but my last one was one of the ones with the gimmicky weights on the pressure plate, and after 20,000 miles on it my pressure plate started to get stiffer and stiffer to push when the car was warmed up, to the point it bent the pedal linkage up. Near as I can tell one/some of the weights were getting hung up in the fingers.

    I replaced it with a Zoom clutch and it is actually easier to push the pedal than the Center Force and is supposed to be rated to like 800HP. I only have a couple thousand miles on it, but so far I like it a lot more.

    If you are not using slicks or drag radials, then pretty much any 11" clutch will work work and hold up fine. The tires will let go well before the clutch will.
     
  4. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    I'll have to check my part number, but I have a center force on mine (only making about 540hp though) and it is STIFF. I mean real stiff! I'm kinda at an impasse on what to do, I'm afraid I'm gonna hurt linkage its so stiff. I'll try to check the part number later and get back to you.
     
  5. 71gs3504sp

    71gs3504sp Well-Known Member

    Yep

    I went with stock ACDelco 11" clutch.

    I don't have the horsepower you have.

    Diving is a pleasure with this clutch.

    My .02

    George
     
  6. AlaskaBuick

    AlaskaBuick Well-Known Member

    That is odd that it is stiff from other reviews I have seen. Huum.. this is a concern for my Dad at 75, Good input

    Thanks.
     
  7. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    RAM or Mcleod , I don't care for organic clutches myself so I always go for the "puck" units I had a Centerforce in my pops car it lasted 200miles Ram has been in there for 10years goin strong and I slip the hell out of it when I run it on stock tires back to back it doesn't care it will chatter a little tho on pull off
     
  8. gmcgruther

    gmcgruther Well-Known Member

    My brother in law has a 514 big block Ford pushing 735 hp and torque well over 800 in a 1978 Bronco that is triple duty, mud bog, rock climbing, and daily driver. I don't know the name of the manufacture but the clutch name is called " Velvet touch" and it literally has two let off's . One is for just letting out easy and not hard on the gas pedal, the second engagement is for all out brute power. That clutch is nice on the leg muscle and not hard to push. Its been in the bronco for 14 years and its went threw hell. I wish I could tell you the manufacture.. But, have you thought of going Hydraulic clutch? You can get a convertion kit for any car or truck now. Its just a thaught. Good luck. Sincerely Gary M.
     
  9. gmcgruther

    gmcgruther Well-Known Member

  10. redsixty9

    redsixty9 Platinum Level Contributor

    Call Walt at Pro Motion Performance Powertrain in Ft. Lauderdale Fla. 994-771-5575.He took all my clutch and transmission woes away when I had a manual shifted car. Walt really knows his clutches. I can personally say I wasted thousands on clutches including Centerforce. When I switched McLeod the car shifted flawlessly and never even put the spare clutch I bought in the car when I sold it.
     
  11. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Here's the info on mine. Like Gary said, a hydraulic clutch setup may be a good option. In hind sight I wish I would've gone that route (and probably will in the not so distant future). Like I said, I'm not sure why, but its ungodly stiff.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Hey Silver BUICK, is this the gimicky clutch you ran? DFX 11"?

    I plan on running it and looking at 550hp/580tq N/A and occasionally laugh in with the 80 shot of juice...I also have ahydraulic pedal and T/O set up.


    Hope it holds up for me. Did you ever deterine why yours was failed at 10,000 miles. I have heard guys getting 20,000 miles with this clutch on cars that are more stout than my plans....

    I see mixed reviews searching around the interweb...


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbRY6S7asYU
     
  13. TheSilverBuick

    TheSilverBuick In the Middle of No Where

    Yes. I got 20,000 miles out of it, one completed Drag Week, and there was plenty of clutch material left on the disc. Completely failed/seized up on the drive to the following year Drag Week. When the engine was cold the clutch worked just fine, when it warmed up the pedal was impossible to push to the point it eventually bent the lower rod out. When it was at it's stiffest I got under the car and the linkage from throw out bearing to pedal had it's normal easy free play (~1" at the pedal) and didn't get stiff until it touched the pressure plate. I was under the car looking at it while a friend pushed the pedal and it was definitely the pressure plate. When all the heat was out of the system (over night) it operated smoothly and nicely again. When I pulled it out, there was nothing obvious I could identify causing the issue so my best educated guess is when some heat gets into it, one or multiple of those weights start sticking to the fingers and wedging themselves in so the clutch can't be pressed in. I replaced it with a Zoom clutch and seems to be working well and made it through DW2015.

    These pictures are from when it was new.
    [​IMG]

    The disc on the left is an Autozone stock '70 GS Centerforce that had around 65,000 miles of service on it and I suspected it was slipping going down the track during DW2011 with drag radials on hence upgrading it for DW2012 and it failed on me going to DW2013. I did not have any performance issues with it in 2012, on the street or going down the track.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Which Zoom Perfection are you running now?
     
  15. TheSilverBuick

    TheSilverBuick In the Middle of No Where

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