Street/strip clutch & flywheel package

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Dragsinger

Of all things, I am building a 1953 Studebaker as a hot street rod that, knowing myself, will see some track outings.

Primarily it will be parades, shows, and back roads running through the gears and showing a few youngins what Studebaker taillights look like.

Nice 350 SBC, Tremec 5 speed, as must as 7000 + RPM shifts, the car will be relatively light, I estimate around 3000 with the driver.

My question is, what is a good choice for clutch and flywheel?

I have a 59 Ford with a 428 Cobra Jet engine and Toploader 4 speed , with 3.50 gears, but it`s 4000 pounds. I originally was running a McLeod "Street Pro" with an organic 11" disc, with a 30 pound steel flywheel, which worked great on the street, but with slicks at the track, the clutch would start slipping in 3rd and 4th gear. Over the winter, I switched to McLeods "Super Street Pro", which has a organic facing on one side, and a metallic facing on the other side. I have only put about 500 street miles on it so far, but it has been working fine, and has good street manners. I haven`t taken it to the track yet, so can`t say for sure if the slipping with slicks is cured yet, but I will be putting 4.30s in for the track, so that should also make life a bit easier on the clutch. With a 3000 pound car, and I assume a fairly low 1rst gear ratio in the Tremec, either of those McLeod choices should be OK, unless you have tall gears, and plan on launching hard with slicks.