Lightened Presure Plate?

[1993MTXSHO]

How do you guys feel about an aluminum PP? What kind of power increase would be expected, 5hp? I am talking about the SPEC Billet Aluminum PP they make, it's an extra $180 or so but price aside, what kind of gains would be had. Also would that cut down on engine/bearing wear or maybe even help gas mileage slightly?

 

[kikkinasphalt]

i never looked at UDP's light flywheels or light PP for HP gain.

i always saw them as a way to reduce roational mass so the engine moves through the rpm range quicker...

the only thing id worry about is the PP ability provide decent clamping force and still be nice and light.......

 

[1993MTXSHO]

i never looked at UDP's light flywheels or light PP for HP gain.

i always saw them as a way to reduce roational mass so the engine moves through the rpm range quicker...

the only thing id worry about is the PP ability provide decent clamping force and still be nice and light.......

They are supposed to provide the same clamping force as the regular clutches if not more. Also if the engine moves through the rpm range faster isn't that gaining hp?

 

[kikkinasphalt]

They are supposed to provide the same clamping force as the regular clutches if not more. Also if the engine moves through the rpm range faster isn't that gaining hp?

hrm, if its the same i dont see a down side.

and tech your not gaining hp, you might free some unused ponies up.. but i wouldnt concider that a "gain" lol

 

[expy916]

x2

You would be Freeing up some hp, NOT gaining. As for mileage, there may be a slight gain.

 

[St Louis SHO]

I hate aluminum flywheels for this reason:

They tend to warp, making the clutch disc only contact on the outside half of the disc.

To each their own though, but be warned Just stating a known fact here for ya, trying to save time in the future.

- James

 

[gmorrell]

Aluminum pressure plate or clutch cover? Big difference. The clutch cover is what holds the pressure plate and spring. Aluminum covers aren't all that unusual in racing clutches, but even these use Steel pressure plates and Steel floaters between the discs.

An Aluminum pressure plate would be a thermal and friction material interface disaster, especially in a heavy car. The current nodular Iron pressure plate is barely up to the task at hand.

The real question is, what's the weight difference? Everybody (who doesn't know anything about strength of materials...) always raves about the advantages of making Part X out of Aluminum instead of Steel or Iron, but often, once the engineering is done, and a comparatively stiff and strong part is obtained, the weight savings isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Aluminum has lower modulus and stiffness then Steel or nodular Iron, and it takes a lot more material to get the same equivalent strength in Aluminum.

I guess the question is, do you trust Spec's engineering?

 

[Shoaz]

Aluminum has lower modulus and stiffness then Steel or nodular Iron, and it takes a lot more material to get the same equivalent strength in Aluminum.

That's what I was thinking; will the assembly fit in the available space if the cover is made of aluminum? In order to be strong it might have to be substantially bigger, and I don't know how much clearance is available.

The old 9" clutches just had stamped steel covers, so maybe it won't take as much material as I think. In order to be as strong as the iron cover plates it'd need to be pretty big, but I don't know whether they're overkill or not, at least for an N/A car.

 

[St Louis SHO]

My bad, I mis-read the OP's statement. I do agree with the 2 above posts as well. Sorry

 

[1993MTXSHO]

hrm, if its the same i dont see a down side.

and tech your not gaining hp, you might free some unused ponies up.. but i wouldnt concider that a "gain" lol

x2

You would be Freeing up some hp, NOT gaining. As for mileage, there may be a slight gain.

good point, I was thinking of gaining HP to the wheels but I suppose both of us are technically correct.

 

[kikkinasphalt]

My bad, I mis-read the OP's statement. I do agree with the 2 above posts as well. Sorry

+1

i made the same assumption

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Can they even do it?

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Can they even do it?

do what make an aluminum pressure plate? I assume so since they advertise it But from what I read here I think I will stick with the cast design.