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Is the flywheel affected by which type of clutch I use?

Old 05-20-2015, 12:54 PM
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Silverblade
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Default Is the flywheel affected by which type of clutch I use?

Long story short I am planning on reusing my 10" long finger clutch on my new motor so I need to get a new flywheel to work with it. The motor is a newer foxbody 302 so it is drilled for a 10.5" clutch. When looking for flywheels I see all of the 50oz ones are for a diaphragm style clutch. I assume as long as my pressure plate and clutch fork are all set up for my 10" clutch the flywheel doesn't matter?

On a side note, will a 10" dual friction centerforce clutch hold up to a mild 347? Or would I get better holding power from the Ford Racing 10.5" diaphragm clutch? I read the older clutches hold better at higher RPM but not sure if they would hold 375-400 pounds of torque? I spent all my money so I cant go up to the 10.5" centerforce that's why I am looking at the cheaper ford racing one.
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Old 05-20-2015, 02:48 PM
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67mustang302
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The Centerforce are a good clutch. Diaphragm is better all around, because it requires less effort to operate, which also means less load on the thrust bearing in the engine as well as the throw out bearing.

Might as well just get a decent steel SFI flywheel and go with the CF DF. There are much better clutches, but they're much more expensive.
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Old 05-20-2015, 03:44 PM
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Silverblade
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thanks 67mustang for the input. I was originally planning to upgrade my flywheel but when I look on summit they have the $98 summit racing brand flywheel and then jump up to the $460 centerforce flywheel which is a bit more than I am hoping to spend. Both of which however are listed as for a diaphragm clutch. I assume either will work with the long finger clutch?
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Old 05-20-2015, 04:33 PM
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I think I am just going to bite the bullet and buy a CF DF 10.5" diaphragm clutch and run the existing flywheel. At least I can sell my 10" clutch and get some of it back. 99% sure I can run the diaphragm clutch with the mechanical clutch that came on the car? I will do some more research. Thanks again 67.
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Old 05-20-2015, 05:33 PM
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barnett468
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.
you need at least an 1800 lb pressure plate with a 10" disc to keep it from slipping under abuse.

you can run a dual friction disc in any pressure plate or flywheel.

you can run ant type if pressure plate in any flywheel.

not all diaphragm pressure plates have the same leverage ratio, therefore you might have an 1900 lb one that takes less force to depress than an 1800 lb 3 finger one or you can have an 1800 lb one that takes more force to depress.

if you use a diaphragm plate you should remove the under dash clutch pedal spring.

a mcleod pressure plate is 10.5" . . summit sells the discs and pressure plates but good luck finding it . . if you want a mcleod pressure plate, i will give you the link to it.
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Last edited by barnett468; 05-20-2015 at 05:37 PM.
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Old 05-20-2015, 07:19 PM
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One of the guys that used to be on here a lot ran a McLeod dual-plate clutch on his monster 351W stroker (after blowing up some smaller clutches). After talking to a couple different clutch companies, he settled on the McLeod as they were the only company to tell him over the phone that their clutch would be streetable and reliable with his setup.
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Old 05-21-2015, 01:36 PM
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67mustang302
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I'm running the McLeod RXT twin disc. It's an EXCELLENT clutch. Easy to operate, will handle a **** ton of power, and very streetable. It does bite really hard and fast if you let it out quick, but will slip just fine. I'm never using another clutch again, unless McLeod develops a newer twin disc to replace the RXT and I need a new clutch (which won't be for a very, very long time).

It is a $1,000 clutch though, the price of technology being what it is.
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Old 05-21-2015, 04:06 PM
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barnett468
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.
silverblade, all you "need" is one clutch disc.
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Old 05-22-2015, 01:05 AM
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MonsterBilly
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IM running a centerforce dual friction with a stock flywheel and a t5 with my 331. I think I am laying down about 420 hp. I will find out for sure when it gets put back together. I will get a dyno sheet with it.

It has been in 3 different engines that have been driven hard and I have had no issues. It works perfectly and is great on the street.
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Old 05-22-2015, 10:50 AM
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Silverblade
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Thanks everyone for the help!

I ended up finding a 10.5" CF DF clutch locally that I am going to buy. Last question, hopefully, will my existing throwout bearing I was using on the 10" CF long style clutch work with this new 10.5" diaphragm clutch? Or do I need a new one?
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