Well as you can see, Im posting this question for my dad who has the Chevelle. We have been looking at clutches lately and we need a clutch to work at the strip with slicks, and be able to be driven on the street. Here are the 2 that we have been thinking about----
1. Ram 3000lb static pressure, diaphram plate w/ either the 300 Organic Race disk or the 900 series sintered iron disk

2. Centerforce Dual friction pressure plate and disk.
I have done some reading on the centerforce and alot of the LT1 guys have had problems with them, but I am not too sure on getting one yet. IF anyone has a manual on this board, please tell me what kind of clutch you are using or would recomend with our application, oh this car has right around 550hp, give or take a few hp, and its used in a full bodied Chevelle. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Brian and Mike

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R.I.P. #3 You will be missed 1951-2001

1995 Pontiac Trans Am LT1, A4, red w/ black leather, t-tops, 3.23, Flowmaster American Thunder with Borla Stainless Dual tips, K&N CAI, Accel Extreme Heat wires, Bosch +4 plugs, 10 speaker system, Bridgestone RE730's.

Best time to date---
1/4--13.97 MPH--98.26 R/T--.620 60'--2.03(on 100% street tires)
Just Bought--
1992 Lumina Z34, red, 3.4DOHC, 2 door

Dads Car
1970 Chevelle LS6 454, red w/black stripes, B/W Super T-10, many mods to the LS6, but those dont need to be mentioned, and many more that I dont have room to put on here.

I use a stock chevrolet clutch. It works great

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350 4 speed 12 bolt3.73's
Bench Blue w/black inter.

If the Chevelle is ever driven on the street I would go with the Centerforce dual friction. I use the Centerforce Gold behind my big block, but don't run slicks
- I forgot I also run a 125 shot of Nitrous throught the Centerforce Gold - (bought this clutch 8 years ago, before there was a dual friction model and it's still in good shape and I abuse the snot out of it)

[This message has been edited by Bob Tiley (edited 03-14-2001).]

I have the 10.5" center force gold behind a big block with N2O and 12" tread , never had a hint of slippage but this is in a 3000 lb car. With a 3800 lb chevelle it may not hold up. I would look towards the Ram in a heavy car.

I have heard problems of center forces in Late model mustangs too but that is a funny looking clutch to start with !

I use Hayes 11" clutch and pressure plate. Never slips - even w/3500 rpm launches. When I try the slicks this year that will be the true test. They better hook better than the BFG's!

chris

I read that some of the Vette guys had trouble with the Centerforce dual friction...I cant see why unless they screw up the install ( Vette guys are "my mechanic" guys anyways http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif...

Centerforce dual all the way. Your dad will think it has less pedal feel than a stocker and IT BITES HARD. I;ve abused the tar out of mine and it just dont even know it.

Only funny thing is that I had to make a longer clutch rod for it ( the rod that actually engages the clutch fork.)Thankfully we had a long grade 8 bolt laying around that was the perfect size/thread to use. I;ve heard other with the same predicament. So might just as well be prepared. Get a grade 8 bolt with the same threads on as the adjusting sleeve, measure what you need, cut the end off and grind it to a taper like the orignal.

Maybe the LS1/Vette guys are having trouble with that????

I HIGHLY recommend the Centerforce.

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Gene Chaas
Gold Member 62/ACES
67 SS 427 (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/october2000.html)

Thanks for the replies so far, we are kinda leaning towards the dual friction at this point, but we like to see if anyone else has some opinions on it or the Ram clutch setup.

Brian

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R.I.P. #3 You will be missed 1951-2001

1995 Pontiac Trans Am LT1, A4, red w/ black leather, t-tops, 3.23, Flowmaster American Thunder with Borla Stainless Dual tips, K&N CAI, Accel Extreme Heat wires, Bosch +4 plugs, 10 speaker system, Bridgestone RE730's.

Best time to date---
1/4--13.97 MPH--98.26 R/T--.620 60'--2.03(on 100% street tires)
Winter car--
1992 Lumina Z34, red, 3.4DOHC, 2 door

Dads Car
1970 Chevelle LS6 454, red w/black stripes, B/W Super T-10, many mods to the LS6, but those dont need to be mentioned, and many more that I dont have room to put on here.

I would recommend the Ram clutch and pressure plate . I have a very similar car w/a ST-10 and have had great success with their products. call their tech line for more info on their products for a recommendation on your combination.

I have the centerforce dual friction clutch behind an LS-6 in my 70. It has withstood 7000 rpm powershifts even with slicks. The only thing I would say about it is, because it hits so hard, hooking the car up might be a problem. The pressure plate actually increases the spring pressure at higher rpms to help it grab harder. Most race clutchs actually allow some slippage to keep the shock load off the drivetrane and tires. But these are race only 7-800 dollar clutches. The Centerforce takes a beating and like Gene said the pedal pressure is soft like stock.

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http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/yosemitedr/quintillis/index.html

I went through 2 clutchs behind my 427 before I broke down and put in a Centerforce Dual friction. I am sold and would never put in anything else.

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CFR.

I used a Centerforce II set up in 3200 lbs Nova with a 406. Put about 15,000 miles on it-still works fine-no slippage.

With that experience we decided to go with a Dual Friction 11 inch clutch to install in a 4400 lbs Caprice with 4.10, M20, Drag Radials, and 461 motor. We don't expect any problems.

Brian, I have used both cluthes (Ram and Centerforce) but as far as which one to use depends alot on how your car will be used.
I used to run a Ram clutch (Borg&Beck style) with the 6 point metallic disc.If all you are going to do with this clutch is drag race than it will work great. But, if you are going to do much street driving you probably won't like it much. This clutch is either ON or OFF.It does not liked to be slipped (like during normal street driving),if you try it chatters pretty bad.Heavy traffic and a 3200# pressure plate gets old real quick.
A couple of years ago I switched to the Centerforce Dual Friction. Could not beleive how well this clutch works.It hits as hard or harder than the Ram clutch with about a quarter the pedal pressure.Very smooth clutch.I am running a 30 over 454 with a set of ported 049 oval ports and a mechanical roller cam thats in the neighborhood of 525hp and with an additional 150hp shot of NO2 on Hoosier Quick Times street stickies there was no hint of slippage at all.

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Darren
1971 Chevelle
454/4spd/4.30/NO2