After doing a cursory search on "308 clutch", I am still very unaware of the options for replacement. It would appear that the factory "reduced effort" upgrade is out of the picture, because of my early serial number, (22207). Thanks, Dr Tommy for looking it up. Does anyone have a feel for the clamping presure, cost, pedal effort distinctions within the 308 clutch offerings???? To restate the obvious, I am looking for a low effort, high clamping pressure, low cost clutch. (IS THERE A SANTA CLAUSE)? Hopeing for enlightenment, I remain DAZED AND CONFUSED, chris
The possibility exists that you have a 12 cylinder pressure plate in the car. Those had very high pedal effort in a 308 and were often used in a misguided effort to make clutches last longer. They are the same in every way save the spring pressure. A 308 clutch in a well lubed, proper operating , proper adjusted early 308 is not that bad. I agree the later system is better but yours may not be right to begin with.
I never tried this with a "Ferrari Clutch" but in the past with Porsche and Lotus cars I have used a local company that overhauls clutches with great results and at a cost of $90. I have a Porsche and in the past I blew 2 clutches out when I ran the car on the track. 2 times - Once a factory sachs clutch and even one of their rebuilt units. - They custom made me a 4 puc racing clutch disc. Many track events and lots of street driving no more trouble. That cost $150. They can also test and adjust the peddle pressure and clamping pressure with this machine they have. I have yet to need a clutch in any of the Ferrari's I have had or currently have but they have assured me that it would be no problem. - Check your local yellow pages.
Borg & Beck from TR or GT car parts. I had a kevlar clutch before but the stock one seems fine I replaced it myself no drama just lots of parts that didn't belong and some missing go figure, I wish Brian had changed it before then i would not have had to run down the missing parts! BTW the heavier the clutch the less gym time (for that leg) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Go drive a Pantera for a few days and a 308 clutch will feel like butter. Also think of the bright side, it keeps the wife from taking it out too often.
I'll have to check with my mechanic. He replaced the lever in my last 308, S/N 22237. It took the effort down from 60 # to 34 #, at least that's what he said, and it felt that significant to me. I don't recall him mentioning any extra work because of the early S/N, just the lever -- but I have a lousy memory. In any case, I just got S/N 22051, and I plan on having him do the same thing.
Wise3, Have you had any luck finding more info about the work your mechanic did to reduce the pedal effort. thanks, chris
Can't you just get a machine shop to make you an extended lever to change the leverage ratio? BTW, I have a 77. I don't find the effort too much. Philip
Just a comment that he didn't have any trouble before, and he's getting a lever for my new acquisition....
I guess I missed this heavy clutch thing. My 77 is no different from all of my 60's Corvette's and a few chev trucks I've had. Can drive this in traffic all day and hasn't been a problem.
Why is there a mention of clutch bell crank upgrades with only certain serial numbers. Can the early cars serial number 20000s have the upgrade to the later bell cranks or will it simply not fit. Does anyone have the information needed to upgrade to the later bell cranks to reduce pedal pressure.
Hi Ben, Apparently, the upgrade will not work on earlier cars. A little while after starting this thread, my clutch disc lost a "puck". It wedged on top of another puck and made it so the clutch would not release. In reviewing the previous owners records, i noticed that he had Centerforce rebuild his clutch, so i called them and they said this was an extreamly unusual problem. The rebuild had about 3000 miles in 4 years, neverthe less, they refaced my old disc with carbon kevlar, (standard lining design, not pucks) rebuilt my pressureplate and shipped it back to me for about $250 (good service). In the process of installing the above clutch, i noticed that the release bearing carrier was quite hard to move on the input shaft collar. It was quite badly galled. I filed the pieces down and applied lubriplate, reassembled and adjusted the linkage - The clutch was noticeably easier to operate. hth,chris.
Due to the severe increase in HP my clutch has been toasted like a Christmas turkey. I have looked over the variuos options and there really wasn't one that was going to work at a cost effective price point. I rang up Mcleod and they are now building me a custom setup with twin disks and new flywheel. it'll be a borg & beck design with the same pedal pressure as before, it can be modified if I'd like less pressure but with the hydrolic system on the mondi it's not needed. total cost is going to be around $2k, I'll keep you guys posted when it gets done. apperantly they are quite busy and said it would take a few weeks just to get started. for some unkown reason to them they also stock disks with our size spline, so that keeps cost down. He mentioned they can also produce this setup when done with mine. thats the overview, when more progress has been made I'll post up.
And here's a reply I got from Ferrari Service of Costa Mesa: I would recommend a puck style carbon kevlar setup, It can handle more power than the full face version that I usually put in the street cars. However it may be a bit 'grabbier' than what you may be looking for. It's definitely not unstreetable or jerky on first gear starts but if you have the wife for a passenger she may not appreciate it! Otherwise the full face lining would be fine if you are not looking for more than 400hp and your engine is otherwise fairly stock. $$950 for either clutch. No core required. The Kevlar disc needs to have a reworked pressure plate or it will grab too hard. The price is for both the pressure plate and disc.
I called Mcloud a few years back when I fragged my clutch and flywheel at the track and they had Mueller Fabricators build me an aluminum flywheel and twin disk clutch. (just send in your existing ring gear) Mueller has since gone out of bussiness but Mcloud makes the same setup now. I heard rumor the other day that Mcloud was gonna quit doin imports (Red is not there anymore I've been told) could just be hearsay. But I love this clutch .. a little stiff but can be resprung to whatever you want. I swear this thing is indestructable : ) Image Unavailable, Please Login
I dont recall Ill have to look for what we weighed it in at, ( Have had it for 4 years) But since aluminum is approximately 35 percent on average the weight of steel ( depending on the alloy ) the weight was considerable.
that's way cool, I sure hope there not throwing in the towel, they've got my stuff. said it would be some time tho due to orders. not sure if they're going to make one of those or something new. do you have the specifics of what they did? might help speed up the process.
how's this for power, if I down shift to 4th at 80mph and plant the throttle the clutch burns! you can feel and smell it getting toasty not to mention the 'cloud' of disk material puffing out the back. I really need the new setup! anything over 4k slips.
Again don't have the specifics handy ... will have to go on a quest to find them : ) . But talked to Red a couple of years ago at SEMA that I was concerned when Mueller went away in case I needed the thing rebuilt. he said that they manufactured clutches for Mcloud and that it was their design so just send it into them when the time comes for it to be refurbished. So maybe if you send them a pic of the clutch it will jog some memories. I know they are pretty busy with all the NASCAR stuff so may take awhile.
