[DeTomaso] Who makes the best clutch for the Pantera?

[Ed Pike]

Richard,

Like Michael said you will probably get a lot of different opinions. I have no 
experience with a centerforce or a stock clutch. When I got my 74 it had a 
Mcleod 3 finger clutch in it whick promptly self destructed about 2 weeks after 
I got the car. No fault of the clutch - it was old. I put another Mcleod 3 
finger clutch in it and got about 17,000 miles out of it. It came from PI 
motorsports and it worked great. It had one annoying (for me) tendency to 
shudder a bit during slow to moderate take offs. It occurred between 1000 and 
2000 RPM. It turned out to be a characteristic of the clutch and with a little 
practice I learned to work around it. I just replaced it with a Mcleod diaphram 
clutch and have about 250 miles on it and it works well with no shudder. My car 
is set up to drive daily (weather permitting) and has about 425 hp and stock 
flywheel. The clutch required a long throw slave. 


I think alot depends on how you drive it daily or every once in a while, how 
much Hp you want to run and how hard you drive it. This is just my opinion but 
if you drive it hard and or not very often the three finger Mcleod would 
probably work. Personally I like the Mcleod diaphram clutch. It fits how I use 
the car.

I am sure that there are some guys that have experience with the Centerforce and 
will provide some insight as well.

If you want to look into the diaphram Mcleod I would recommend you talk with 
Dennis Quella at Pantera Performance. He was very helpful in getting me what I 
needed for my set up. He could also give you some input on the difference 
between Mcleod's.

Any way just my opinion. 

Good Luck,

Ed....


________________________________
From: Richard H. Schulze <rschulze at uis-usa.com>
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Tue, October 12, 2010 12:29:16 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] Who makes the best clutch for the Pantera?

Who makes the best clutch for the Pantera?  I guess it might be a bad
question given that I have only found three clutches, two of them made by
Centerforce.  The third clutch is offered by PI Motorsports.  



I like the looks of the centerforce clutch, but I am not sure how well it
works or if it requires a special flywheel.  Any advice?  Are there any
other options that don't cost $1000.00?  Most of the clutches cost about
$375 and only the PI Motorsports kit comes with a throw out bearing.  There
is no talk of a throw out bearing in the centerforce clutch advertisements.
Can a stock throw out bearing be used on the centerforce clutches?



I have a 351 Cleveland that has been stroked and bored to 400 cid with
aluminum closed chamber heads and small ports.  I have about 450 HP with no
plans for nitrous or more horse power.  



Thanks, 

Richard Schulze in Dallas, Texas

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