New Clutch Toasted

[dirttrackSHO]

Hey everybody,
I know this has probably been discussed several times on here already but I feel like headbang . I just put a new clutch, pressure plate, etc. in my '89. Drove it less than 5 miles and the clutch is toast. Anybody have any ideas on what brand etc. clutch I should use? The one I used was a new "stock" replacement that I purchased at Advance Auto with a lifetime warranty. However I do not want to have to change a clutch every 5 miles.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[89 black SHO mtx]

how did you toast a clutch in 5 miles? what is it doing and how did you adjust the pedal?

 

[jthomas68]

The stock SHO clutch a good clutch,it holds upwards of 300hp.The problem is once it glazes over from slipping it,the clutch is junk.My clutch lasted me about 15k miles,also way too little.The issue with it is the kits you can buy here are all remanufactured clutch discs.The ones from Canada(SHO Nut sells them)are brand new discs,they hold up better than our "cheapies".What exactly ar your symptoms of "toast" and how do you think it happened?

 

[dirttrackSHO]

I race this particular SHO on a 3/8 mile oval dirt track. Last week (after new clutch installed) I did 8 laps in the heat race. This is only 3 miles. I did one lap in the feature and pulled off because my alternator had quit and I had no power. Replaced the alternator, everything is fine. Went to the track Friday night. On hot laps(which is not a race and therefore is sloooooow), I was having trouble passing cars that had eaten my dust the previous week. I went out for the heat race and it went down hill from there. Take off was fine. But the rev limiters kicked in almost immediately and I had to shift. I finally got to 4th and the rev limiters were still going off even though I was only going about 40 miles per hour. I got off the track. There was smoke coming from under the car (my motor does not smoke) and now I can not shift unless I turn the car off. I could not get it to go into reverse and had to be pushed so that I could it on the trailer. There is no doubt in my mind that the clutch is burnt.

I would put a picture of it on here, but I haven't been able to figure out how. I paid $300 for the car and now have over $5000 invested. I have a '91 that I plan on keeping street legal.

 

[Dave Ladely]

I would have gotting a kevlar disk in the first place, even on a street machine. Well worth the small extra cost!

 

[RStalveyARFF]

umm you do know you're supposed to break a clutch in before hammering on it, right? I can slip a 6 puck dual friction disc like no tomorrow with a stock sho if it's not broken in. At least 100miles of stop and go driving is requred. Also, did you get your flywheel reground, and did you clean it before reinstalling? Brake cleaner is your friend here. You definitely glazed that disc over bad. My stock clutch right now, with about 35k on it, the PP having 45k on it is just starting to slip on the heavy nitrous shots, but bites nice and hard when running NA. If you break them in properly they will last. JT is just an idiot, don't listen to him. Oh yeah, I think the canadian clutches are starting to be rebuilt also. Last one I got from Josh had the rebuilt sticker IIRC.

<small>[ May 04, 2003, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: SHO91MTX ]</small>

 

[dirttrackSHO]

The flywheel was reground and cleaned before it was put back in. My question now is, how do you propose I put 100 or so stop and go miles on a car that is no longer street legal? It has been completely stripped and has a full roll cage installed. I'm not sure the car will get 100 miles on it during all of racing season. It would be too much work to install it in my still street legal '91 and break it in and then pull it back out and install it in the race SHO. How do I make a clutch last? I don't mind spending the $800 for the hirev race clutch as long as I don't have to do it every week. cry

I appreciate everybody's help.

 

[shojuan]

dirttrackSHO:
My question now is, how do you propose I put 100 or so stop and go miles on a car that is no longer street legal?

Night time is your friend. May I suggest a 2:30-4:30 AM jaunt. If you get pulled over explain what you're doing to the cop and maybe he'll let you go. 95% chance you won't get caught.

It's the right thing to do. Installing a clutch without some break in miles is just plain asking for trouble.

 

[shojuan]

SHO91MTX:
Oh yeah, I think the canadian clutches are starting to be rebuilt also. Last one I got from Josh had the rebuilt sticker IIRC.

Please, say it's not so!!! eek! eek! eek! eek! frown

 

[RStalveyARFF]

dynooooooooo or borrow a repair plate.

 

[dirttrackSHO]

Night time is your friend. May I suggest a 2:30-4:30 AM jaunt. If you get pulled over explain what you're doing to the cop and maybe he'll let you go. 95% chance you won't get caught.

This sounds like fun!

I just have 2 problems with it. No lights of any kind. And have you ever heard a SHO that has no cats, just straight pipe?

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I have. Drove home from new york w/straight pipes. Rent out a dyno for 2 hours and just stop and go, stop and go.

 

[BeatDaSHO]

Up the driveway, down the driveway, up the driveway, down the driveway, up the driveway, down the driveway. thumb

Greg

 

[sdpatt]

I can not shift unless I turn the car off. I could not get it to go into reverse and had to be pushed so that I could it on the trailer. There is no doubt in my mind that the clutch is burnt.

You may have glazed the pressure plate and flywheel resulting in clutch slipping, but if the gears cannot be changed without shutting down the engine, the clutch cable, throwout bearing and/or pressure plate are damaged or not installed correctly.

 

[dirttrackSHO]

For pics of the car visit this website http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/dirttracksho
Thanks for all the help