[DeTomaso] Will a twin disk clutch with a Borg and Beck Long style pressure plate fit?

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/17/08 9:05:50 AM, kenn_green at yahoo.com writes:

> One is a race clutch that probably fits with no issues, but it's not clear 
> that it's streetable.  The other is their Street Twin with a Borg and Beck/ 
> Long style pressure plate and it looks like (from pictures on the Mcleod web 
> site) that the pressure plate is spaced away from the flywheel to make room 
> for the two disks, and it's nto clear to me that it will all fit inside a ZF 
> bell housing.
> 
Just 'cause its on sale doesn't make it a deal. Its also not clear that a 
stock Pantera hydraulic clutch system will have enough travel to release a twin 
disc clutch, since our cars barely have enough clutch travel to release a 
single disc; two discs will need twice the travel to even be marginal. So you might 
need some wholesale changes to get the thing to work as well as a stocker. 
This sounds like the solution to a problem no street guy has, and will likely 
wear out your ZF synchros faster than ever. 

FWIW, 'race' clutches usually have super-stiff springs to wear out your leg 
in traffic, and a disc with no marcel or shock-springs so you always get some 
chatter on take-off. Finally, stiff clutches react far more force into the 
block each time you step on the pedal, which wears out the small crankshaft thrust 
bearing. Then when the tiny bearing surface is gone, wear allows the crank to 
move fwd & back too much, bending the connecting rods. Con-rods won't take 
much bending before you saw the block in half when a rod fails at speed.
If you're convinced you really need such a thing, maybe for a 
foaming-at-the-mouth big-block or a big supercharger, I'd ask McLeods tech service guy what 
this clutch is rated for- 2200, 2400 or 2600 lbs, and what height or thickness 
is the complete assembly? I'd also ask them how the stiffness compares to 
their 'stock' 11" Long clutch. Borg & Becks are sometimes smoother acting due to 
the internal rollers but if the thing is too stiff to live with on the street, 
thats a definite drawback.   FWIW- J Deryke


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