Please post your clutch/pressure plate combo in here for your 3800s. Also post your experiences.
Long story short, I hear a lot of folks mentioning Clutchnet, but when I ask directly about the models, I don't see much response. Since we have a ton of 3800 swaps these days, I am doing a survey (of sorts) to see what everyone is actually using, and if they are happy, or indifferent to it.
This should give us a real idea of which clutches are prone to lasting,and which are trash. If I get a good amount of (real) responses from actual 3800 owner/users, I'll give cliff a paypal donation. If the responses are really good, and really informative, then Cliff will get a larger donation.
So, PLEASE post your 3800 clutch combo below and your thoughts. Please include how long it has lasted.
88 GT 5 spd Getrag Spec III 3800SC is completely stock except for the bottom end is was replaced with a 3800 S3 NA.
The clutch has about 1,000 miles on it now. It chattered like a betch at first. It still does at times. Reverse and 2nd are pretty bad with the chatter. This is because the center hub is solid with no springs.
I'm considering pulling it out and throwing in a performance clutch for the 2.8. On a scale of 1-10 I'd say my satisfaction with the Spec 3 is about a 6, maybe 7. If I had to do it again, I would definitely try something else though.
*** edit *** The flywheel was purchased new from WCF, already turned down to 840 thickness and balanced.
[This message has been edited by 2002z28ssconv (edited 02-17-2011).]
After researching a lot, I ordered the Clutchnet Red X2 Pressure Plate with the Yellow Organic Disc Clutch.
They're currently in the mail, so we'll see if I made a mistake in ordering the yellow clutch. I feel confident about it though, I will rarely drag this car.
Worked perfectly from the beginning with very minimal chatter which went away almost right away. I was worried about my choice after reading some of the threads here but I've put over 15k miles on it so far (some abusive and some daily driving). No complaints at all so far.
Just got my Spec 3 Part # SC883 for 5 speed getrag will update you on how it feels, i read the break in procedure looks like the ask for 500 miles of stop and go and being easy on it???
Bought it used (already broken in) from another member. Its being used with the 4spd. I like it. Moderate to heavy clutch, grabby. Need to engage quickly or else it will chatter. Once you're used to it though, no problems. Doesn't slip and hasn't failed yet (keeps fingers crossed).
I have a spec stage 3, had it on my 3.1L then swapped it to my 3800 s/c gen V 3.3 pulley headers cam, 3 inch exhaust. Did ok at first now slips like crazy in 3/4/5 when getting on it. Gonna try a spec stage3+ Hd pressure plate option and aluminum flywheel will be installing it in the next month or so.
Quite a few Spec users. I am curious how the Clutchnet Red/yellow will fair. I have heard great things about Clutchnet, but haven't really seen anyone with them installed yet. That makes me wonder why so many talk them up. I was looking at a very similar combo (organic disk, yellow plate) through Clutchnet. Now, I'd heard bad things about Spec, but see a lot of folks happy with them, so I may re-think that . Ohh the confusion. Bump for more folks.....
Me? Previous owner said I have a Centerforce Stage 2. It's got a pretty hard pedal, and started slipping after 5,000 miles. Once it is pulled, I will know for sure what model it was. It's got to go though.
I have around 500 miles on this clutch. It's a solid-hub design with a 6-puck friction configuration. This setup feels more like an on/off switch than the old clutch I was used to. If I try to ease the engagement and draw it out it will chatter pretty badly. The more I drive it the more I get used to the feel you really just have to let out on the clutch much faster.
For the 3.8 swap do you use the clutch/pressure plate for the manual trans in your Fiero? In my case it is the 4spd Muncie. I have a feeling the answer is yes, but when searching through other threads I was not able to find a definitive answer.
For the 3.8 swap do you use the clutch/pressure plate for the manual trans in your Fiero? In my case it is the 4spd Muncie. I have a feeling the answer is yes, but when searching through other threads I was not able to find a definitive answer.
Thanks in advance.
Yes, unless it's a non-Fiero transmission, like the F23 or F40.
i have the clutchnet setup on mine. still in the build process, so i do not know what the reliability or driveability is like. it is a sprung 6 puck clutch and the red pressure plate. if the info is really needed, ill dig through my receipts to find exactly what i bought.
McLeod clutch on a 3800 SC Series III engine with a Getrag 282. Seven years on this clutch and no issues. The clutch is very "grabby" and is almost fully engaged the moment contact is made.
Spec Stage III plus on 3800 SC Series II with Getrag 282 and about 400 miles with no issues so far.
Use a Fiero Getrag clutch for the F23, that's what I'm doing. I'm using a stock Getrag Clutch, however it's an N/A as you know, a Supercharged would need a beefier clutch for sure.
I first used a Spec stage 3 in my 3800 a few years ago. The pedal was very on/off and I really disliked it. That was an older design that they since corrected. I've installed about a dozen stage 3 clutches in my swaps and they all seemed fine. The clutch felt stock and it held. I since have tried a stage 3+ in my 3800 and I'll never go back to a stage 3. It feels smoother...engages better and with the stage 3 if I shifted too fast the clutch would sometimes slip until I let off the throttle and got back on it. With the 3+, this does not happen. It is also a full disc and not a puck type. I also added stickier tires to the rear with the 3+ and I really enjoy it much better.
Have used SPEC III clutches on at least 30 customers cars so far and on two of my own cars and no problems. only ever had three problems with manual swaps where two were WCF McCleod clutches that the customers supplied and one was a WCF flywheel where the bolt holes were too large and caused a failure. Dan
I have the Clutchnet Racing 6 Button 'E-Z LOCK' Sprung Hub Clutch Disc. It slips on hard shifts. No chatter at all. 3800sc3 w/ pacesetters, tune and N* tb. I think something is not right for this one to not chatter and to slip between shifts.
I used a XTD stage 3 clutch from ebay (though I might save some money). After 1200 miles I pulled the engine to do a f23 swap and two of the pucks were chipped and one was completely gone, which explains why it started to slip under heavy throttle. I have a spec 3+ waiting to be installed once a few engine mods and the trans swap is ready. I will post how I like the spec clutch after some use.
------------------ 86GT, 3800SC, GETRAG, true duals, 3.4 pulley, comp VS cam, zzp match flow injectors, zzp power log, WCF air intake, ARP bolts, comp lifters and push rods, 90# springs, SI stainless valves, aero-force scantech meter. Here is my build thread https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/122548.html
My engine dyno'd at 282whp/317wtq so even though it wasn't a 3800SC, I think my experience is beneficial to this thread.
Spec Stage 3: put 7K miles on before throwing it in the trash. Holding power was great, drivability is very poor, especially in stop/go or parking lot maneuvers. This clutch is smoothest when driven aggressively, but that is hard to do when you only want to move the car 5 feet.
Spec Stage 2+: (stage 2 Kevlar on 1 side, Stage 3 6-puck on the other). This replaced the Stage 3 and was night/day improvement in drivability, but wouldn't hold the power at WOT.
Spec Stage 3+: put about 15K on this clutch and loved it. This clutch has very good holding capability and good drivability. It is much less an on/off clutch that the Stage 3 was and is easily used for stop/go traffic and parking lot maneuvers. This is my recommended clutch for anyone in the 250 to 400 whp level.
88GT Clutchnet stage 2 3800 series 1 SC stock except for P&P heads/intake F23 (no spacer required)
Their stage 2 comes with the yellow pressure plate, sprung hub, kevlar on one side, organic on the other for the clutch. No chatter, holds the power from the 3800 fine, Autocrossed it a few times and taken it to the drag strip once, no issues from the clutch.
Spec Stage III plus on a stock 3800 SC Series II with a 3.4 pulley and a McLeod sintered iron clutch on the 88 with a 3800 SC Series III engine with N* TV, VS cam, 3.4 pulley, and ZZP intercooler.
I have a RAM 88644HD between a stock 3800 NA (Series III long block with Series II TB, PCM, and injectors) and an F23.
There was slight interference with the bellhousing, as others had noted. It was easy to make clearance.
I have perhaps 500 miles on it so far. No chattering or slipping. Most importantly to me, it is very drivable and pleasant to use in stop-and-go traffic. The required pedal pressure is modest and it's easy to feather if you're creeping around a parking lot or using a drive-thru.
Checking to see if anyone else has any updates on what clutch combo they are using/prefer for the 3800SC swap. I heard the Beretta clutch from Spec is the same but CHEAPER? Can anyone verify this?
Sorry for reviving an thread but the info is still incomplete. Does anyone have a recommendation for a clutch setup that will give a softer pedal? This is for a stock 3800 Getrag. My wife refused to drive her car with the Spec 3 so I pulled it out. After 10 - 15 thousand miles this thing is about worn out too. I had the bright idea to use a pressure plate from a 3800 Camaro but it hits the inside of the bell housing. I'm not worried about the clutch slipping. It won't be driven hard.
[This message has been edited by 2002z28ssconv (edited 02-02-2015).]
Sorry for reviving an thread but the info is still incomplete. Does anyone have a recommendation for a clutch setup that will give a softer pedal? This is for a stock 3800 Getrag. My wife refused to drive her car with the Spec 3 so I pulled it out. After 10 - 15 thousand miles this thing is about worn out too. I had the bright idea to use a pressure plate from a 3800 Camaro but it hits the inside of the bell housing. I'm not worried about the clutch slipping. It won't be driven hard.
SPEC Stage III Plus should do the trick for the wife. I currently use it on a stock 3800 SC Series II with a 3.4 pulley and really like it.
Just got mine together with a spec 3+ a few weeks ago and it has a lighter clutch now than with a stock one. Another thing I did was grease up the shaft that actuates the throw out bearing. Mine was a little sticky and took quite a bit of force to move by hand but after a little bit of grease, it required no effort to move back and forth.
I have little to no chatter while driving except in reverse which doesn't matter much to me
