[HCM24]

Hi guys, I have a 2007 with a Smarty Jr. Anyway I am in need of a clutch. I have been looking at Valair's website and am not sure what model to get. They seem to have clutches rated for up to 400 hp etc, and they offer a HD hub on the clutchs, then I see different options for kevlar vs ceramic buttons. In idiot terms what do you guys suggest. I am only planning on keeping the Smarty Jr, and maybe having my injectors flowed later on, but that is just a maybe. Of course in a perfect world I would love to have a nice engagement for easy around town driving, especially important is a quiet clutch, and then last of all it seems that I have read some guys have a hard time getting there truck into 2nd gear, maybe that was with dual disk though, so it would be nice to have it easily go into 2nd gear. I dont race, 4x4, or punish my pickup, so I dont want to over clutch it. I do tow a 10,000 lb boat sometimes up long grades though so it needs to hold up to that.
So in a nutshell what clutch do you think would suit my needs. I am leaning towards Valair, but if someone has a southbend that wants to chime in please do so. Thanks for any input.

 

[GhostRider7]

i have a valair FE (feramic on both sides) and it is holds great so far with my setup. it is however grabby. i think with what you're looking to do an OFE (1 side organic 1 side feramic)would be a good choice. Just be honest with yourself as to how far you wanna take the power. you don't want to buy something that isn't going to have enough holding power in the future.

 

[ILLINOISRAM]

I would reccomend whatever you want and can afford. They are both good clutches but i think you can get more bang for your buck with the valair. The ceramic would be my choice as it will pull double duty working or playing. Feramics are a little grabby for towing and i dont know much about kevlar. I deal with mostly 2nd gen trucks but the problem with the singles is i imagine with the smarty you could be in that 400 horse range and to get one that will cover you now and allow for a little more later, it will be pretty grabby with some unfriendly towing characteristics. It is a fine line to picking the right clutch. My actual recomendation is a cermaic button clutch from Terry at Powerpartsengeneering.com. $ 650 bucks will work great and last. Hope this helps. Tim

 

[SouthernCummins]

I just put a South Bend 3250 Dual Disk in my truck on the 4th. Its not too grabby, it dont jump around when you feather the clutch backing up or anything. I did a 3rd gear launch today and it lit up the tires, and squealed them goin into 4th. It is a 750+ HP rated clutch, dont know if your looking for that much. But IMO its a good clutch for the money....only ~$200 more than SB Con FE.

 

[RobertP]

the South bend CON OFE would be a perfect choice for you! it will hold the power with what you have and want. it is a great towing clutch. and a great all around street driving clutch.

i wouldnt recommend the FE or the ceramic, they will be to grabby when taking off and backing up.

 

[DORKWEED]

the South bend CON OFE would be a perfect choice for you! it will hold the power with what you have and want. it is a great towing clutch. and a great all around street driving clutch.

i wouldnt recommend the FE or the ceramic, they will be to grabby when taking off and backing up.

 

[Diesel Dummy]

Valair OFE would be a good choice, it is able to be slipped when backing and will hold some HP all at the same time. The Heavyduty hub is standard on all there singles now. The brass woven would also be good but if you get bit by the HP bug a little more you could run into issues later down the road. Ill send you a pm on what i can help you with. DD

 

[TJBUGGIE]

I agree on the Valair ofe for your truck.

 

[farmboysdiesel]

My vote is for South Bend. It's what I run and what I trust in my truck.

 

[CTD03]

My actual recomendation is a cermaic button clutch from Terry at Powerpartsengeneering.com. $ 650 bucks will work great and last. Hope this helps. Tim

i tried to call and email them and never got and answer

 

[wtfd6]

OFE clutches are not meant to be slipped. but I still recommend the South Bend Con OFE.

 

[CTD03]

OFE clutches are not meant to be slipped. but I still recommend the South Bend Con OFE.

i thought all clutches slipped a little or am i wrong? can you explain your answer for all of us

 

[wtfd6]

I mean no extended slipping. the feramic will warp if it gets too hot.

 

[ILLINOISRAM]

Well as we all can disagree, the ceramic is alittle grabbier than stock, but you have to sacrafice something. SBC are great as i have said before, but 1100$ for a 450 horse clutch that he will exceed is not a good deal in my book. The feramic i dont like so then i would reccomend a dd. That is why i think the ceramic button clutch is the best of everything clutch. Plus we thrashed my brothers pullin and doing burnouts, smoked it in southern Il, loaded my truck back on the gooseneck and drove to danville il for the dhra pull last year. Try doing that with a ofe. Again, my worthless opinion. lol Tim

 

[ILLINOISRAM]

CTD03, if Terry has the lathe or mill going, he cant hear the phone. I would just keep trying he will usually here it on number two. The email he probably wont get as i have tried that before too. Hopefully he didnt answer because he is building my new pullin clutch! Tim

 

[CTD03]

thanks illinoisram
any ways

back to clutches i do have a ceramic single disk from valair and its a great clutch i really dont worry about getting that clutch hot. i have done way to many things with the single disk from valair and can prove they will handle just about any thing you throw at them.
yes its a little grabby. backing up with a loaded trailer of hay is a pain in the butt even in 4 low but if you play alot and dont want to spend it on a DD ceramic is the way to go

my vote goes to valair single or DD clutches now just waiting for sfi certified and we will be good to go.

if you guys have any ? about driving with valair single disk ceramic/ceramic i will try to answer them the best i can i have done it all with there clutch

 

[RobertP]

im not knocking anyones clutch here, but the single disk ceramic is not going to be a good clutch for towing at all. it is too hard of a material, and will destroy the flywheel very fast. also the ceramic material will make for backing a load up very hard and grabby unless slipped very hard.
i would say that a ceramic disk would be good to have if you only plan on playing on the street unloaded. and dynoing.
so for the gentleman who started this thread the ceramic facings would not be a good choice for him at all IMHO. The SBC CON OFE would suit him and his needs much better.

i have run just about every type of clutch out there in my truck. so when i do reply to these threads im posting from personal experience not what ive seen. so far the only ones to really impress me are the CON OFE which was a fantastic towing and all around easy clutch to drive loaded or not. it also held up to 611 HP and me slipping it at the track running 13.3's. the other clutch to really really impress me has been my dual disk. this thing tows like a dream. and wow will it hold some power. which has gotten my truck down the track at a 12.9.

 

[spankdog]

Listen to Robert! He knows his stuff!!
My SB 3250 DD is on the way!:hyper:

 

[silvercummins31]

can someone price me a SB Con OFE and a sb dual disk

 

[britenour51188]

i vote for the southbend as well i just switched from a full feramic valair to a 3600 DD southbend granted they are a little different but the southbend is amazing compared to the valair much easier to drive!!

an i also think the 3250 SBC is a good idea for you cant go wrong with a DD just my opinion good luck either way