Clutch Upgrade Hunt

[Preloader]

It's open season. With the 200 hp milestone being passed, the quest for a capable clutch is under way. Travsonic has already done a swap to a twin disc, and has posted useful info in these threads:
OEM clutch assembly issues

twin disc clutchmasters pics

I figured I'd open a new discussion thread to create a go to for posting any new findings. I'll be looking into a single disc, and am still undecided on a lighter flywheel swap.

Please post useful info like p/n's and prices and even phone #'s.

Also note that BNR said they are a clutchmasters distributor and have competitive prices.

 

[Eric Smit]

I plan on going with clutch masters. I'm undecided on how many discs and what stage, but it will be them.


-Eric Smit

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

I would lighten up as much of the flywheel as you can, rotating mass off the crank is way better than weight off the body. Then your next chase will be dropping the unsprung weight off the wheel assembly.

 

[sx sonic]

Great post Preloader. I'll be in the market for a seven disc stage 100 clutch for my cat back sonic

 

[dblackston]

Great post Preloader. I'll be in the market for a seven disc stage 100 clutch for my cat back sonic

Because racecar of course!!

So if BNR is a dist. for clutchmasters is there possible plans for them to start R&D staged clutch kits??

Hint....hint....Cough...Cough BNR? I do for see a bit of interest in this from us in the Sonic/Cruze world.

 

[TurboTechRacing]

We are working on a single disc setup now. Awesome price it will be.

 

[dblackston]

We are working on a single disc setup now. Awesome price it will be.

Sweet

 

[Preloader]

The demand will only rise.

 

[sx sonic]

Turbo tech what's your ETA for the clutch??

 

[Preloader]

I'd buy and/or test a clutch from TTR.

 

[Eric Smit]

I'd buy and/or test a clutch from TTR.

ditto.


-Eric Smit

 

[sx sonic]

Sign me up for testing. I'll even do the install my self

 

[AxelRipper]

Always this... Cruze/Sonic Custom Twin Disc Clutch PICTURES

 

[Swordsmith]

Reposting my note from a different thread:

I contacted Clutchmasters, and they insist on getting a 1.4 sonic clutch assembly in their hands before making one available. Transonic's Cruze parts may or may not be correct for Sonic, and they refuse to ship for Sonic based on their Cruze measurements.

Their estimate on a single disc plus flywheel was $1100, once they get a prototype done and tested on someone.

They are willing to upgrade the OEM sonic clutch, but say that doing so will require a regrind on the OEM flywheel, and suggest that doing so will require very special tools in order to deal with the dual mass flywheel. They did say, however, that doing so would probably run about $525 for the rebuilt clutch, plus around $40 for them to do the regrind, they can't say how much a local shop might charge for the removal, installation, and regrind.

 

[theenico]

I'm about 98% sure that the Sonic and Cruze 1.4Ts use the same clutch. I seem to remember that they are even the same part numbers in the GM EPC (Electronic Parts Catalog).

Maybe one of the forum members that works at a dealer would look this up for us. If the clutch assembly and flywheel are indeed the same part numbers for both the Cruze and Sonic, then there is no reason for Clutchmaster's to need yet another complete factory assembly.

 

[Swordsmith]

The Clutchmaster's guy said that they very probably do use the same clutch, but that they probably have different part numbers even if they are actually the same part, and that if this is the case, it wouldn't be possible to tell the difference between two slightly different parts, and two actually identical parts, without actually examining them.

If they -do- happen to have the same part numbers, though, then he'd be happy to make the clutch and flywheel based on the Cruze measurements he has on hand.

 

[Preloader]

The Clutchmaster's guy said that they very probably do use the same clutch, but that they probably have different part numbers even if they are actually the same part, and that if this is the case, it wouldn't be possible to tell the difference between two slightly different parts, and two actually identical parts, without actually examining them.

If they -do- happen to have the same part numbers, though, then he'd be happy to make the clutch and flywheel based on the Cruze measurements he has on hand.

Did you speak to Jose? Trav mentioned that he is the gut to talk to.

 

[Swordsmith]

No, I spoke to Kevin. I'll try Jose and see if I can get a different answer, although Kevin certainly seemed to know what he was talking about. California time though, means it won't be 9am there until it's what, noon here? Cursed spherical earth, if I'm awake everyone should be awake!

 

[Swordsmith]

Update; got ahold of Kevin again, after presenting him with the parts numbers for both Cruze and Sonic clutch parts, he's pretty convinced that they are in fact identical, and he's working on the project. Right now, he's trying to get the OEM clutch assembly rebuilt and redesigned to work on the existing flywheel; he says that if he can get it up to 1600 lbs, he'll be happy with it for our application, and that assembly will be much cheaper than selling a whole clutch-and-flywheel kit.

He also added that he -is- willing to do the bigger job, if we can find say 7 or 8 people who all want to spend well over a grand on a new clutch... but he figures he'll get a lot more sales on the significantly cheaper clutch-only unit, and that if he can get what he thinks is possible out of it, that it will work just fine for us until we're making over 400hp.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

so it sounds like a $500 clutch could be in the works that would be good to about 400 hp, that sounds like we could start throwing some serious mods to the motor and see what internals go first.