CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I am wondering if Hydraulic clutch set ups are any good at the track? What are all the new Camaro's, Challanger's, Mustangs etc using ie: stock, Super Stock and braket cars. Someone is trying to tell me there is no place in drag racing for hydraulic clutch set ups. Chris

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

My opinion is they have no place with a TRUE race clutch setup; i.e., adjustable sindered-iron clutch disk. These are designed to have a controlled amount of slippage on launch with an immediate release of the throwout bearing from the levers by way of mechanical linkage.
A Hydraulic system MAY be good for something like a diaphragm clutch assembly which engages more like an "on/off" switch on engagement. But I haven't put a lot of thought into that...
The question should be why do you think you need a hydraulic system in a race car? Have you put your foot on a race unit that is properly designed? I think your average Civic has more resistance.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

X2, I don't think a hydraulic clutch linkage even belongs in a street car.They have a strange feel to them and do not respond quickly.Hydraulic systems belong in a bull dozer or garbage truck.A cable set up isn't much better.A well designed mechanical linkage is really the only answer.
As Jeff said newer clutches have a very light pedal feel.Before I removed the over center spring on my car,it would hold the pedal to the floor.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I had an 8.80 Tbird with a lenco and put a McLeod hyd unit in it. Had a single disk McLeod iron unit. Had a delay box and had to run around 1.1 in the box just like with mechanical linkage so I didn't see the hyd setup as not being able to respond quickly. Also don't see the problem with a cable. I am thinking about one in the SSGT I'm building. As long as it is kept lubricated and not tied in a knot I think it will work. I would guess the Fox body Mustangs that came with cable still run them in Stock. And the cars with hyd still run it. My car will be a SS car so it is only used on launch. In an A-body Mopar the drivers side is pretty busy with header, starter and t-bar all fighting for room. Keep the linkage out of there and free up a little space.
I have heard the in S and SS you cant run Hyd or cable but I can't find it in the rulebook. Maybe one of those things, if it doesn't say you can, you can't

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I am looking at the Ram stuff, check out the valve at the bottom of the page. Chris

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

weeellllll, i was told (by NHRA) that i COULD NOT convert to a hydraulic setup on my AMC, so, using that logic, i don't see how you can convert a hydraulic system to linkage (legally)..

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

We run a hydraulic setup with a true race clutch , we have made hundreds of passes over the last 6 years with this setup. We had a few issues with leaks and interference initially but it is fine now. The car is an 84 Trans Am we run in stock or s/s

- http://www.howeracing.com/c-534-throw-out-bearings.aspx

---Trevor

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I'd rather have mechanical linkage,only way it does'nt work is if it falls off,which is easy to figure out and fix.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I met a older guy this year that had a NHRA Mustang stocker, and he was the first stocker to run in the eights. He had a hydraulic activated clutch in his car. It depends on you transmission and how much of a challenge you are willing to go though to run a hydraulic unit. If the mechanical linkage in not workable, sometimes a hydraulic unit can make things easier. My street Cobalt has a hydraulic activated clutch, and I believe the Corvette has a hydraulic clutch. I have one in my Super Gas car, which has a Lenco and it works just fine. I have had a couple of knee surgeries and the mechanical linkage with the bell housing, I had at the time, was not the best. So I went with a McLeod throw out bearing assembly. I have had some issues with what I was trying to do at the time, but at the present I am very content. A lot of it depends on whether you have to use the clutch to shift or not. You need to talk to people who run them and find out the good points, and the not so good points. I like mine, and that is the bottom line. I love the sound of a stick car going through the gears.
Steve Williams Super Gas 351N.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Alot of the guys in the NMRA Factory Stock class run the cable setup and seem to do o.k.
I've never heard of a big problem from the Mustang group about a cable setup.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Don't waste your time with the hydraulic clutch linkage unless a consistent reaction time is not a concern of yours. When the fluid in the linkage is hotter your r/t will be quicker and when it is colder your r/t will be slower. If your line runs near the headers that will throw another fluid temp factor into the mix. Take the time and build a mechanical linkage, you will not be disappointed.
I made 4 time runs and ran 5 rounds of eliminations at my last race. My reaction times ranged from .017 to .041 for 9 runs, 6 of them were between a .025-.030. I don’t think that is possible with a hydraulic linkage, especially since over the weekend our air temps ranged from 55*-80*.
We built the linkage in Charley Downing's 2010 mustang stocker and from what I could tell by the 16 runs I put on it in Belle Rose this past spring his is just as consistent as the one in my car.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Brad brought up a great point. I know a racer that was using the hydraulic fluid tranny break button in Super Stock. They were using heat guns to monitor the temps and adjusting the temps to a desired level for more consistent reaction times. And the fluid capacity of that unit was minuscule compared to a hydraulic throwout bearing system.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

We were worried about consistency until Pierce put together a string of .00 reaction times one weekend . ---Trevor

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

I don't believe that you can compare hydraulic Tranny fluid to the fluid that I use in my clutch system. If you are concerned about the temperature, then I would be more worried about, brake systems that use the type of fluid that you are concerned about. I have run a mechanical linkage set up, and done ok. I also have run a hydraulic clutch system, and I think that you just plain dont like the idea. You guys are great with the setup that you have and that is why you are Number 1. The person asked the question, and I was trying to show some good side of the system that I have. Sorry if I ruffled you feathers,

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

He asked for opinions and got it. If you have a hydraulic system and it works, great. Nobody cares which system anybody uses on their car.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

seriously, i was told that, in stock (by a NHRA tech guy, i forgot who) that if the car was not equipped with a hydraulic clutch, i couldn't convert it...

is this possibly an IHRA thing?(that you CAN convert)

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Are guys running '93 thru '02 Camaro/Firebird using hydraulics in SS? Or does somebody fabricate mechanical pedal/linkage packages? Can't come through the floor, still has to be a swing pedal, right?

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Don’t worry you are not ruffling my feathers Maverick... We had a hydraulic clutch in my car when we originally built it and we are much happier with the mechanical linkage we have now. I was just trying to show the good side of what we use, as the title of the post says Hydraulic vs Linkage. You are right I just plain don’t like the idea of a hydraulic clutch.
I do applaud you for running a clutch car in SG, that’s pretty neat!

Ed,
Last I heard we still have to use the swing pedal and it can't come through the floor. On our 94 Camaro stocker we fabricated a bolt on linkage that used large heim joints that held the Z bar to the fire wall. You thinking of a stick in the LT-1??????

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

Do it Ed put the Jerico in over the winter!

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

The LT4 is a soft one, but has to be a stick.

Re: CLUTCH, Hydraulic vs Linkage
 

There's your answer!