My stock clutch became the weakest link last night at the Lakeland dragstrip and so I've begun my search for new clutch. The stock one just isn't grabbing at all off the line under any increased RPM. I knew I would have to change it soon but I was just wainting. The rotary heads here pointed me towards Tampa Clutch.

Jim the owner also does all the work. He recommended the following. He would use the stock plate but will modify it with some welding and machine work. He will then build a 4 puck spring disk with bronze ceramic material and kevlar hence 50/50. Me not knowing the engineering behind it, he explained that the springs and kevlar material will allow for a smooth engagement when needed but that the ceramic will allow for very aggressive grabs when required. Additionally, the flywheel will be resurfaced. He did mentioned that most drivers will fear the 4 puck design for how aggressive it grabs with the ceramic, but he added that the kevlar and springs do all the compensation. 4 puck will reduce heat also.

His shop is full of clutches ranging from your casual enthusiast drivers to full blown drag cars running on alcohol, he builds for everyone. Your opinion and thoughts are welcomed in criticizing this route for a custom clutch.

 

I m familiar with jims work. what power level you at?

 

Last dyno was at 301hp 284tq on 91 when I lived in Cali. The car will be getting cams, head studs, springs/retainers, gears in about a week. My IX core will be sent to be modified, meanwhile I'll continue running the VIII turbo. I'm opting for the FP Black so a clutch is a must and so therefore 1st in my list. I know this clutch may be overkill but the price is below what some of these kits out there are priced at. I've been talking to Scott at TPP BTW. Is just taking me for ever to get this car off the ground since I'm buying a house and closing in 30 days.

 

the clutch will be underkill. it will hold the black turbo on pump gas but not race gas. will not hold too many launches with any setup. 4 puck clutches have short life. very little friction material.

 

will a 6 puck like the fidanza 4.3 , hold a black 94awcoupe?????

 

the 4 puc with half ceramic discs and half kevlar would be smooth engaging, but it sacrifices torque holding. ~500tq

the six puc with all ceramic will hold ~600tq. so it would be a better choice for the black. I would call it borderline depending on driver. the general rule for awd car is you need 25% more clutch than your dyno tq. to hold launches.

example 400tq on dyno would need 500tq clutch to launch awd car.

driver mod is biggest. a good driver can drive stock weight car into 11s on stock clutch. and poor drivers will burn them up hitting 13s.

 

dude u got to remember its been pretty cold here and that track isn't known for hooking. I got the act and cut 1.8's all day down their while the front tires spin all thru 1st and chirp in second.

 

I will talk to Jim about a 6 puck design to get his inputs. His sole purpose for adding kevlar is for adding some sort of smoothness not found with full ceramic disks. If the kevlar is sacrificing that much torque holding on a 4 puck design than a 6 puck should provide more grabbing area and the kevlar should keep things smooth.

 

My experience with hybrid mix material clutches is that you get the weakness of both materials and little benefit.

The material that doesn't deal well with heat gives up first, which then the other material has to hold the power on it's own, which over powers it.

The clutch will chatter less then a full ceramic, but it won't drive anything like a full faced organic and it will still have chatter.

A clutch with less surface area on the pads will grab harder. You are putting the same force on it, but over a smaller area. As such, the normal force goes up and torque goes up. The trade off though is you have less area and mass to soak up heat.