clutch

[pbeck]

Hi, my name is Paul and I have a 89 cavalier. Last fall I put a 3400 in it. When I did the motor I put a new clutch in it,(cheap one from auto zone)...it's what I could afford at the time. This winter I have plans to do a turbo and since the clutch is already toasted, a new clutch. Is their any clutch that someone would really suggest? I have done some looking and have heard the spec clutch kits throught optionimports.com are good....any comments or help would be great.

Thanks, Paul

[pocket-rocket]

I've heard the spec clutch kits are good as well. IMHO, Autozone clutches are only made to make a car drivable so you can turn around and sell it fast. I had one where the friction material literally exploded when I engaged the clutch for a corner, and one of the pieces wedged itself in the pressure plate making the extremely slipping clutch after that chatter really bad as well. I didn't abuse that thing much either.

[pbeck]

Yeah, I run mine pretty hard. The throw out bearing sounds like a rock crusher.lol. I'm parking the car in a week and getting out the winter beater. I've heard center force is one of the only ways to go but is a little more than I would like to spend.

[pocket-rocket]

I read that Centerforce don't have enough room in (some) FWD applications to put the counterweights on the pressure plates. I have a Centerforce in my 4 cyl (lol) Ranger right now and I love it. I bought it on ebay cheap with 10k miles on it from a Murker XR4Ti that a guy was parting out. I bought it because I read the engine in my truck is the same one that was used in the Murker, Turbo Coupe Tbirds, SVO Mustangs and the like, so in theory the clutch should work fine. So I bought it for $75 and going price on it was over $300. It's been the most awesome clutch I've ever used and haven't had it even think of slipping once, even when pulling a 5k+ lbs Tahoe with my truck...

[Superdave]

XTR clutches have recieved good reviews.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XTR-S...mZ180290480735

have you asked over on V6Z24.com? you'd get some application specific info over there...


I run an older 6 puc EZ-clutch that i got off of ebay like 3 years ago. it holds up just fine.. and trust me, i'm not easy on it.

[Joseph Upson]

For proven dependability you should consider original equipment for a stock engine, I arrived at that conclusion for pretty much any part that will stop a car dead in its tracks if it fails and is a difficult part to replace. If power upgrades call for more performance then look elsewhere.

Centerforce peformance clutches have a very poor performance history on the Fiero forum where most engines they were used on were modified calling for a stronger than stock clutch. They performed so poorly that no one their with any knowlege of their history in the Fiero will buy them.

Spec gets the most buisness on the Fiero forum but have had some trouble with hub failure particularly with V8 and 3800 applications as well as on several occasions sending the wrong combinations of parts as documented in forum threads and well talked about. There was a lot of speculation and blame placed on the old Fiero transmission being the cause however, no one explained to my satisfaction at least why the problem seemed to consistently occur with the Spec clutch. The remedy was swapping to a solid hub which I felt was to much of a compromise.

I personally took my stock 3900 clutch which is much stronger than any of the previous 60 degree clutches with a measured ~ 2000 lbs clamping force, to a local builder and had it converted to kevlar friction material. I also had the option of having the spring pressure in the pressure plate increased but the builder suggested I leave it as is considering it already had more surface area and about 400-500 lbs more clamping pressure than the stock Fiero clutch.

This is the second clutch I've had built by the guys in Tampa and I was very pleased with the first although on tear down I discovered that dual friction clutch discs are very hard on flywheels.

Kevlar has a higher coeffiecient of friction than the stock disc. I'll always choose the local builder over mass production companies as a result of the many mishaps I've read about on the Fiero forum, the ability to have it built to my specifications as well as several types to choose from for about the same price or less.

Here's a calculator for estimating clutch strength:

http://www.zoomperformance.com/torque_calculator.html

[pbeck]

Thanks guys, i think i'll ask v6z24 also but I think I know what I am going to run. Thanks for all the help.

Paul

[Barry]

I have a xtr stage 3 in my 3500 beretta. Once its running ill post up a full review.