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Help me pick a clutch set up

I was happy with this pressure plate and pedal effort but not sure which one it is other than a RAMView attachment 1108124
Well, sitting over here on the other side of town, I have clutch stories to tell...as you know.
Suffice to say the current setup in Fred is a RAM 18 spline B&B package from Brewer's - this, after
all my travails with a Centerforce Dual Friction setup (which worked fine; wound up, I just couldn't deal with
the pedal position).

The RAM has proven to be a good, beat on it sort of clutch (it's their "performance" one) that's probably
considered stiff to many these days - but it reminds me of the factory clutch, so I'm fine with it.
I'd be happy with the setup - if only the monkey I hired to install it and the transmission had bothered
to resurface my factory 11" flywheel when he did so....idjit.
Chatter on takeoff will ensue now if not carefully executed and I need to borrow a lift one day to correct
things - which would be nothing more than pulling it all apart to get the flywheel resurfaced.

I'd like to try the old Hays B&B one day just for the heck of it, though - I have fond memories of those,
too.

Diaphragm type clutches are wonderful things, what with less effort needed and all that - but they do engage
differently than the old B&B and at least to me, it's more of an "on-off" triggered affair with them.
B&B have more travel between fully engaged and fully disengaged, which I like personally.

Anyways, if you'd like to check out (drive) Fred's setup sometime, you're more than welcome to.
I know he's not a fire-breathing hemi, but I imagine an RB with a full-girth 4 speed is similar to drive
to what you have regardless, eh?
 
Ed,
I really appreciate your offer on the test drive of the clutch! I’m gonna try to get in touch with RAM sometime today and see what they recommend if all fails I may give you a shout.
Again thanks for the generous offer:thumbsup:
 
Ed,
I really appreciate your offer on the test drive of the clutch! I’m gonna try to get in touch with RAM sometime today and see what they recommend if all fails I may give you a shout.
Again thanks for the generous offer:thumbsup:
Hey, not at all. You came and bailed out my bacon before, right?
This one is the HDX 11" B&B 18 spline kit. Just wish the flywheel was machined when it went in....
You got my number. Holler if you like.
 
I put a Mcleod dual friction 10.5" clutch behind the 505CI stroker in my 73. Clutch, PP, and flywheel all new. Mcleod states it needs 500 miles break in. Only went 100 before the engine had to come out. The 505 would over run the clutch easily, but to be fair the clutch was not broken in yet.

Put a 383 in the car till the 505 comes back. In the beginning the Mcleod dual friction clutch would chatter annoyingly on light throttle take offs. With over 1000 miles on it now the chatter is completely gone. I had to do several clutch adjustments during the break in period. The clutch engagement was high up in the pedal. And like stated, it is more of an on/off engagement. You will get used to it, but I would like more pedal travel during engagement.

I can not complain about pedal effort. It is stiffer than a modern hydraulic clutch, but not bad at all.
 
Guys, most of the times someone is complaining about clutch feel, engagement, travel etc. it has nothing to do with the clutch itself! The linkage is the issue! Check this for more details: https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/clutch-linkage-math-how-to.215884/
I've suspected the same myself - it sort of makes sense to me that the way a diaphragm type works vs. a B&B,
the ratios on the linkage would have to be different for each to optimize them.
In the end, not wanting to get into a bunch of modifications to the stock setup (which I'd had enough "fun" with
getting sorted out anyways, thanks to the previous owners' butchery), I just went back to what the cars came with
originally.
Unfortunately, finding a replacement B&B clutch anywhere near stock is difficult in 18 spline/11" configuration;
anything available in that configuration nowadays is pretty stiff stuff.
 
I did use the Centerforce dual friction on a 18 spline, and hated it. Very strong pedal, so much so that my wife couldn't even drive the car. Even sent it back to the factory and they said it was "normal".
The ones for the 23 splines are nice however.

did you take out the over center spring as laid out in the directions? I have the centerforce clutch in my 70, behind a 6bbl and 18 spline. Very easy pedal, and takes all the beating I can throw at it, which is a lot!

9006AE66-BCB6-4688-A902-738CB948FF2C.jpeg
 
Well, sitting over here on the other side of town, I have clutch stories to tell...as you know.
Suffice to say the current setup in Fred is a RAM 18 spline B&B package from Brewer's - this, after
all my travails with a Centerforce Dual Friction setup (which worked fine; wound up, I just couldn't deal with
the pedal position).

The RAM has proven to be a good, beat on it sort of clutch (it's their "performance" one) that's probably
considered stiff to many these days - but it reminds me of the factory clutch, so I'm fine with it.
I'd be happy with the setup - if only the monkey I hired to install it and the transmission had bothered
to resurface my factory 11" flywheel when he did so....idjit.
Chatter on takeoff will ensue now if not carefully executed and I need to borrow a lift one day to correct
things - which would be nothing more than pulling it all apart to get the flywheel resurfaced.

I'd like to try the old Hays B&B one day just for the heck of it, though - I have fond memories of those,
too.

Diaphragm type clutches are wonderful things, what with less effort needed and all that - but they do engage
differently than the old B&B and at least to me, it's more of an "on-off" triggered affair with them.
B&B have more travel between fully engaged and fully disengaged, which I like personally.

Anyways, if you'd like to check out (drive) Fred's setup sometime, you're more than welcome to.
I know he's not a fire-breathing hemi, but I imagine an RB with a full-girth 4 speed is similar to drive
to what you have regardless, eh?

If the clutch has a non-organic lining you are going to get some chatter at very low RPM. Sintered iron and bronze pucks just seems to do that as they are made to slip and need a little RPM to do so. For a low speed take off I blip the throttle and smoothly release the clutch with the falling RPM. It seems to mitigate most of the chatter. That said once the clutch is HOT it wants to chatter at low RPM engagement a bit more. At least it doesn't squeak like sintered iron solid hub discs we run in the more powerful cars.
 
did you take out the over center spring as laid out in the directions? I have the centerforce clutch in my 70, behind a 6bbl and 18 spline. Very easy pedal, and takes all the beating I can throw at it, which is a lot!

View attachment 1109288
Yes I did remove the spring. Was very surprised how hard and abrupt the pedal was because I had used several CF DF clutches on 23 spline 11" and 10.5", and loved them. That's why I sent it back to them thinking something was wrong. Sold the car so I don't have to deal with it anymore.
 
Yes I did remove the spring. Was very surprised how hard and abrupt the pedal was because I had used several CF DF clutches on 23 spline 11" and 10.5", and loved them. That's why I sent it back to them thinking something was wrong. Sold the car so I don't have to deal with it anymore.

very odd. My pedal is quite manageable, even my 16 year old son has no problem with it.
 
I put my first CF clutch in a small block car a couple years back and couldn't be happier. After running 3 finger forever, it's absolutely the nicest I've ever had. Easy pedal, zero chatter and has new even hinted about slipping under power. I was pretty skeptical but am a believer now.
 
Bought McLeod 11” street strip dual surface for 440 4/s Gtx from Brewer little over 500hp and never looked back , good pedal pressure, and grip , not one to feather much , but good so far also premium flywheel to match !
 
Bought McLeod 11” street strip dual surface for 440 4/s Gtx from Brewer little over 500hp and never looked back , good pedal pressure, and grip , not one to feather much , but good so far also premium flywheel to match !

What do you mean by "premium flywheel"?
 
SFI rated 11000rpm one piece flywheel as advertised! Way I understood it this was supposed to be quality flywheel, so I bite ! My understanding was much better than stock one ! Not sure right now if I bought from Brewers or Summit ! Too long ago but think it was a good one for my needs and had it and clutch ckd for balance!
 
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