quote:Originally posted by inhotwater:
Does anyone happen to know that the standard clutch is for the Pantera and what HP it can handle?..... The new setup should be putting out around 425-450hp.
One of the usual mistakes (IMHO) is to add a heavy duty or 'racing' clutch, then find out it makes the car no fun to drive in traffic due to the extremely stiff pedal. A std clutch is about 1800 lbs at the flywheel; by going to a 2200 lb heavy duty unit, you won't be happy unless you regularly do weight-lifting... 425 bhp is not very high; a std clutch, in good shape, can absorb around 550 bhp without slipping. But if you must, I suggest a Centerforce unit which is easier to push in by design. Oh yes- Centerforce's 'heavy-duty' assembly for a Pantera is also almost undriveable IMHO because of its extreme pedal force. Unless this is a dedicated track car, go with a stock pressure clutch- either a stock 3-finger Long type without weights, or a Centerforce diaphragm- which will need its own flywheel since the bolt size and pattern are both different. Expect to adjust the hydraulic and mechanical linkage a few times if you change anything in the assembly. I've found that a number of "slipping Pantera clutches" were from mis-adjusted mechanical linkage.
As a far as surfacing the flywheel and/or clutch plate, first- how do the unsurfaced components feel? if they work, I wouldn't bother changing them for no particular benefit. If you've got shakes and shudders in starting off, sure- surfacing fixes that. Otherwise, all it does is remove 2-3 lbs of cast iron. Again, a dedicated track car needs an explosion-proof clutch & flywheel- steel or aluminum. A stocker does not.