20 replies to this topic

[rwalton]

We got the transmission out of the race car and the reason the clutch was slipping was not because of brake fluid. I had another SPEC clutch come apart. And this time rather than just rattle around in the bellhousing it came through it. I know you may not beleive me, but I'm very easy on clutches! No drag race starts, rev match down shifts, they just don't stay together. This time it distroyed the case of a brand new HMS built transmission. I'm sending it back to Terry tomorrow so maybe he can post some pictures of the damage. Don't buy a spec!!!!

Rob

[Rikenbomb]

rwalton, on 25 August 2010 - 09:11 PM, said:

We got the transmission out of the race car and the reason the clutch was slipping was not because of brake fluid. I had another SPEC clutch come apart. And this time rather than just rattle around in the bellhousing it came through it. I know you may not beleive me, but I'm very easy on clutches! No drag race starts, rev match down shifts, they just don't stay together. This time it distroyed the case of a brand new HMS built transmission. I'm sending it back to Terry tomorrow so maybe he can post some pictures of the damage. Don't buy a spec!!!!

Rob

Terry and others on this board have been preaching to avoid the use of Spec clutches for quite some time. I have heard more negative things about Spec clutches than positive.

[BrApple]

yeah a few of us have had issues with spec clutches in the last few years. I woudl say the last 5 or so. spec clutches from before that time don't seem to have any issues.

http://www.newcougar...-post-here.html

http://www.newcougar...-post-here.html

[Terry Haines]

I spoke to Rob yesterday. This unit was a brand new clutch assy ,FWIW Rob knows how to drive so again we have a quality issue with these units.
As soon as the trans arrives I will take a few pics.I think Rob may also take some of the clutch itself. From the way he described it ...it's not a pretty sight!!

[BrApple]

lol, be ready for spec to say that the input shaft has to much play in it .....

[Terry Haines]

That would be total BS!!!..I know full well how to check and set up input shaft bearings...been doing this for a while now...I've seen that p**s poor excuse before!!!

[BrApple]

Terry Haines, on 27 August 2010 - 08:00 AM, said:

That would be total BS!!!..I know full well how to check and set up input shaft bearings...been doing this for a while now...I've seen that p**s poor excuse before!!!

oh I know. thats what you and Stazi said before when my stage 3+ failed and that is what spec told me was the issue. And the fact that there wasn't a pilot bushing/bearing. but the two input shaft tapered bearings address that.

[Terry Haines]

..some pics.
You can see where the p/plate strap has damaged the bellhousing and cut it thru...also chunk out of the starter hole...broken strap on the p/plate...'blasted' inside of bellhousing..nice!!

 walton blown1.JPG   15.1K   13 downloads  walton blown2.JPG   525.5K   20 downloads


 walton blown3.JPG   514.03K   19 downloads  walton blown5.JPG   592.05K   22 downloads

 walton blown6.JPG   568.83K   20 downloads  walton blown7.JPG   543.53K   16 downloads


..the dark pic is with a light inside the b/housing to see where the strap cut right thru the housing. I thing they may have an issue with the quality of materials used in the p/plate assy.

[Terry Haines]

..just an observation on the blue clutch pressre plate assy.The main body stamping is a LuK unit (as the SVT) and also the spring (diaphragm), carries the same part number as the stoc SVT unit..4 121 967 00...which poses the question,what is the upgrade to this pressure plate if the spring force is the same as a stoc SVT unit??(re clamping force)...hummm!!!

..and paint!!...Notice that the cover stamping and the diaphragm fingers are blue but not the rivets ,straps etc on the faceplate.tells me that the faceplate and straps are fitted after painting..so...is the base unit that is blue just a re manned SVT unit with a new faceplate and straps...thinks????(time to get some faceplates,straps,rivets and some fancy paint..think of the $$$ you can make!!!

[BrApple]

Terry Haines, on 31 August 2010 - 12:24 PM, said:

..just an observation on the blue clutch pressre plate assy.The main body stamping is a LuK unit (as the SVT) and also the spring (diaphragm), carries the same part number as the stoc SVT unit..4 121 967 00...which poses the question,what is the upgrade to this pressure plate if the spring force is the same as a stoc SVT unit??(re clamping force)...hummm!!!

..and paint!!...Notice that the cover stamping and the diaphragm fingers are blue but not the rivets ,straps etc on the faceplate.tells me that the faceplate and straps are fitted after painting..so...is the base unit that is blue just a re manned SVT unit with a new faceplate and straps...thinks????(time to get some faceplates,straps,rivets and some fancy paint..think of the $$$ you can make!!!

the pp is interesting .... I don't recall mine being just spray painted, body and diaphragm finger too. clutchnet looks the same. althought they claim it had more clamping force then the spec pp I sent them to look at, and of course more then stock.

my spec stage 3+ grabbed almost at the top. where as my currect clutchnet setup is more in the middle like stock.

[Terry Haines]

..FWIW a thinner disc will bite higher...maybe the stage 3 disc is thinner Vs a stoc disc???

[SVTjeff]

Terry Haines, on 31 August 2010 - 08:21 AM, said:

..some pics.
You can see where the p/plate strap has damaged the bellhousing and cut it thru...also chunk out of the starter hole...broken strap on the p/plate...'blasted' inside of bellhousing..nice!!

walton blown1.JPG walton blown2.JPG


walton blown3.JPG walton blown5.JPG

walton blown6.JPG walton blown7.JPG


..the dark pic is with a light inside the b/housing to see where the strap cut right thru the housing. I thing they may have an issue with the quality of materials used in the p/plate assy.

Looks like a catastrophic failure, in my humble opinion........ and sorry for Rob's sake.

SPEC = SUCK

[rwalton]

This is the second failure I have had with a spec clutch, Terry saw the remnants of the last one. Both times the straps failed. What is disturbing about this failure is the bell housing didn't contain all the shrapnel. I love going fast but I'd rather not have my clutch surgically removed from my body parts. I'm still researching what clutch to run, and discussing some type of scatter shield for the car. Unfortunately this may delay my trip to Bonneville this year.
Just a minor setback,

Rob

[BrApple]

Terry Haines, on 31 August 2010 - 12:46 PM, said:

..FWIW a thinner disc will bite higher...maybe the stage 3 disc is thinner Vs a stoc disc???

the spec 3+ disk I have with 7k miles on it is 0.355"

new oem SVT clutch disk is .310"

also the pp doesn't have the fingers painted, just the housing.

[spridget]

I have yet to hear anything good about Spec clutch kits.

[rwalton]

looks like I'm going to get a Tilton twin disc clutch. I'm tired of replacing clutches and not sure other brands are the answer. I think it is time for a true race clutch. I found a company to make a flywheel that will work with their 71/4 inch clutches.

Rob

[rwalton]

The new clutch and fly wheel came this week, Terry put the trans together again, so now it goes back together. Thanks to Terry for his help working with AASCO Performance on the design and spec for the setup!
Here is a picture of the setup  2010-10-21 07.35.52.jpg   32.12K   11 downloads  2010-10-21 07.36.09.jpg   29.87K   11 downloads

Rob

[BrApple]

do we dare ask what this new unit cost? any input on how street able its going to be and how much power it can hold?

[Terry Haines]

Rob et al...Glad to help with the application/design with the Tilton clutch. They should have also supplied the modded TOB to match the mulit plate p/plate etc.I talked at length with them on the TOB mods etc.. I think Rob has passed on all his power/torque numbers etc to them,along with his use of the car so I'm sure the Tilton unit will be of first rate quality..Most of it is very much like the AP Racing units I was used to in UK..

[rwalton]

I will have to let you know how streetable it is, the problem is the car isn't very streetable. It is very hard to drive under 3500 rpm. I went with the larger clutch 71/4 vs 51/2 because they said it would be easier to drive. The entire setup cost around $1500 which I didn't think was bad considering what I've spent on other setups. I did think the flywheel would be a little lighter, it is the exact same weight as my Fidanza.

Rob