[DeTomaso] clutch replacement

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/1/10 1:24:10 PM, Dave at damark writes:

> Has anyone recently had a shop replace their clutch & what did you pay 
> for labor?
> 
Dunno about price, but if you do this, I suggest staying close to stock 
clutch specs. Adjustment problems abound with non-vendor parts, and a lot of 
performance shops take one look at the Pantera and try to sell you a 'racing 
clutch'. A heavier clutch pedal is unpleasant to drive very long, especially 
around town- which is one of the joys of owning a Pantera. 
This definitely includes the Centerforce "Heavy-Duty" clutch which if 
anything is worse than a stock Long clutch for high pedal pressure. Besides that, 
all the pedal pressure is reacted against the crankshaft thrust bearing, 
which is none too robust anyway. Once it wears out from a super-heavy clutch 
or someone riding the pedal, the crankshaft is free to move back & forth a 
little, which misaligns the connecting rods- and then you're only one 
pedal-push away from a catastrophic engine blow-up. FWIW- J DeRyke