Clutches....

[Vette78]

Hi all,

If you may remember I was having some difficulty getting my C5 sorted for the MOT - glad to say it's all fine now and has stopped its rapid flashing of the indicators - thanks to those who suggested Teslayn Engineering who put me on the right track!

Anyway - as sod's law would have it, my spirited driving seems to have caused the clutch to start to sulk. Bit of a shame as I was at the York Dragway RWYB yesterday hoping to see off some pesky japanese challengers!

Am I stuck with getting a standard replacement or are there upgraded clutches that any of you have experience with? Also - any idea how much it's going to cost me to but the clutch (any spec) and get it fitted? Can I order them cheaply from somewhere and get it fitted at BM?

Help as always appreciated greatly!

Chris

[c4koh]

For my '92 LT-1, I got my clutch from Claremont. It was a LUK, and cost about £450 which included the VAT+delivery etc.

My local garage - good mechanic, sensible prices - fitted it for about £138, i.e. about 4hrs labour...

Don't know if the C5 is similar, but there you go for the C4.

[te51cle]

I haven't any personal experience (yet !) but I see quite a lot of people are fitting Z06 clutches as replacement for the standard one. Its a direct swap with no complications and is a useful stronger upgrade.

[vetteheadracer]

Exedy do a twin plate for the Tremec T56 box, which will fit the Z06, it is about $2,000 so not exactly cheap but it is good for 800 BHP!

[LuS1fer]

The 01 Z06 had a weak clutch which was made stronger on the 02's but I would guess they just make the stronger clutch now.

[ZR1427]

vetteheadracer said:

Exedy do a twin plate for the Tremec T56 box, which will fit the Z06, it is about $2,000 so not exactly cheap but it is good for 800 BHP!

Z06? 800hp? might be putting 2 and 2 together here but is that something to do with TT Nigel?

[Boosted LS1]

Ls6 clutches are reputed to be good for 500 hp. The c5 clutch & flywheel assembly is balanced individually so has to be marked before disassembly and put back together the correct way. There are plenty of US clutches available but I'd advise against using something non organic for road use. I like the McLeod products.

[neilcharlton]

hey chris , where abouts in newcastle are you ? I live in Chester-Le-Street if you know where that is ?
How about this baby:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33730&item=2473689547&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

If your not in too much hurry , i.e can wait a couple of months i'll ship it over to you for free , well next to nothing anyway.
I have a buddy who can fit it as well, he specialises in american cars.
Neil .

[Vette78]

[quote]
If your not in too much hurry , i.e can wait a couple of months i'll ship it over to you for free , well next to nothing anyway.
I have a buddy who can fit it as well, he specialises in american cars.
Neil .
[/quote]

Hi Neil,

Living in Jesmond - kind of know where Chester Le Street is but not from NCL originally so not sure exactly.

Anyway, that clutch looks great but i'm in need of one asap I think - it's starting to slip notceably from 3rd onwards (only started slipping in 6th on monday) Any idea where I can get a clutch within a few days?

Where/who is your mate who can fit them? Would it be possible for me to get a clutch fitted by him very shortly?

Cheers,

Chris

ps - talking of shipping though i'm hoping to be able to afford some new wheels in a couple of months and bring them over. Do you have some great shipping deal?

[Boosted LS1]

A clutch/flywheel set up could be brought in from the Us in 3-5 days but you would pay a lot for the UPS charges.

[vetteheadracer]

:vette78 said:

talking of shipping though i'm hoping to be able to afford some new wheels in a couple of months and bring them over. Do you have some great shipping deal?

North Hants Tyres (01252 613261) have the Z06 chrome wheels in stock! They can also get you specific wheels from the US if they don't have them in stock.
Regarding shipping from the USA contact Eric The Brave at Movin' Parts (he hangs out around here) as he will probably be cheapest for shipping.

[LuS1fer]

Real Steel may be able to help with the clutch parts. They stock McLeod etc.

[Vette78]

Sorry if this is a daft question but would it be a good idea to upgrade the flywheel at the same time as doing the clutch?

Would I notice a real difference in driving? Just notcied that there are some cheap ones on ebay in the states and if I get a clutch brought in I might as well get a flywheel too!

As for the wheels - thanks vetteheadracer - the thing stopping me getting the wheels is unfortunately affordability rather than availabilty though! Especially if I have to go down B+M route - just been quoted £792+VAT for a stock clutch parts only!!

Will look up Real Steel and see what they can do.

Thanks guys.

[neilcharlton]

Chris / vette78
Give Steve or Eric a ring at moving parts they ship from NY and that clutch i pointed you to is selling from NY .. You'll save a fortune !
I'm using Steve to ship a tonn of parts from the US hense the reason i could have done it for free , a clutch wasnt going to take up much of my space.

Steve Borland

Moving Parts

Oceanteam Logistics Limited

01753 689699

www.moving-parts.com

He's a really nice guy and trips over himself to help you out!

I know someone who could fit for you , he lives in Seaham (sunderland area) he's a bit of a pain in the arse to get a hold of but i'll ask him, if it will help you out? If you can email me your details :
[e-mail]
Bauer Millett are taking the p*ss with that price!

[vetteheadracer]

I got my Exedy from Tom Haus at Carolina Clutch (recommended by blackzr).

www.carolinaclutch.com/C5%20performance.html

He does 3 different performance options for the C5 dependent on your requirements. (See link above).

His email address is [e-mail]

[malc350]

Sometimes I wonder if it's a competition between a certain couple of Corvette specialists in Kent and Bauer Millett as to who can come up with the most ridiculous made up stratospheric prices...

Can you imagine being on the phone to them while they're looking in their trade brochure, looking up "Corvette clutch: £299" and thinking "how much shall we tell this guy, how about £792+ vat"

Once I knew a trader that had just bought a 2 year old 91 Callaway (no doubt that influenced me years later) on which the rather well-off previous owner (David Lloyd) had just spent £3,500 on a service and new clutch.

How did they come up with a price like that, even if there were some "unexpected surprises" in the service cost?

10 years later I can service my Callaway (parts only) for maybe £120-£130 and my clutch cost £825 fitted (Centerforce dual friction clutch + reversing light switch plus gearbox oil change: all parts and labour + duty + vat included in that price)

Just because our cars go like a Ferrari shouldn't mean we have to pay Ferrari prices to run 'em...!

[blackzr]

Drop a line to Tom Haus at Carolina Clutch, they do every type of clutch for every type of car. They have a "stage 2" clutch and flywheel kit which is very resonably priced and the guy is a joy to deal with.

He shipped me three clutches on the 13th and they arrived this morning! Great service.

[e-mail]

www.carolinaclutch.com



>> Edited by blackzr on Thursday 15th April 17:37

[Boosted LS1]

LuS1fer said:

Real Steel may be able to help with the clutch parts. They stock McLeod etc.

When they have them in stock otherwise it's a long wait. They won't have ls1 flywheel/clutch stuff, well I'd be very surprised if they did!

Vette 78, whatever you buy try to look for a balanced assembly. Your stock vette flywheel was balanced by inserting pin weights into it. I'd suggest just changing the friction plate but if you get a whole assembly then ask if it's been balanced.

[Vette78]

[quote]Drop a line to Tom Haus at Carolina Clutch, they do every type of clutch for every type of car. They have a "stage 2" clutch and flywheel kit which is very resonably priced and the guy is a joy to deal with.

<a href="http://www.carolinaclutch.com">www.carolinaclutch.com</a>



>> Edited by blackzr on Thursday 15th April 17:37[/quote]

Thanks to those who recommended Carolina Clutch! Ordered a Stage II package on Friday from Tom - who as you rightly say is a pleasure to deal with!

God knows how long it'll take to fit when it turns up but finding someone to do it is the next challenge!

Thanks again.

Chris