What kind of Clutch do you have in your Cobra

[Fitz]

Thinking ahead...
What are you running in your car. Would you change it if you could do it over. Any issues with the one you have? (Not your wife, your clutch). Thinking ahead about my Quartermaster.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

I have a McLeod 11 inch disc. 15 years and 62K+ miles. Still good.

AZ Bob

[DWRAT]

I also have a McLeod and it does good so far.

[Lou1119]

Originally Posted by DWRAT

I also have a McLeod and it does good so far.

McLeod as well and so far so good.

[1985 CCX]

McLeod Racing

Alloy flywheel
Clutch matched and rated for 450hp

[mikiec]

RAM disc. 15 years 70,000 miles no problems. It is not an on off switch.

Mike

[Karl Bebout]

Oh Fitz, don't worry about it. Your buddy in Maricopa will fix you right up.....again

[blykins]

McLeod or RAM, hands down.

For SBF's, I use 10.5" diaphragms, 100 series McLeod or HDX for up to 400-450 hp. With 500-550 I use RAM Powergrip or McLeod 500 series.

For FE's, I use 11" Long, same deal with the disc and horsepower ratings.

If the hp is over 550, I talk with the customer about what he values more....a single disc, less expensive clutch that could chatter, or a more expensive twin disc that will drive like a VW.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by blykins

If the hp is over 550, I talk with the customer about what he values more....a single disc, less expensive clutch that could chatter, or a more expensive twin disc that will drive like a VW.

Drives like a VW? Sensible with good gas mileage?

[blykins]

No easy to push, so you don't wrinkle up your panties.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Not a Cobra,but use the same set-up in both my 65 Fastback street car (about 425 hp) and my 65 coupe road race car (472 hp) with no problems......both use 10.5 inch aluminum flywheel and Ford Motor Sport King Cobra Clutch and pressure plate....

Street car has 35,000+ plus miles total,200+ 1/4 mile strip passes,2500 miles on 4 road courses......
Road race car went 8 seasons on the same clutch disc,changed the disc then,still using the same pressure plate.....

they can take more abuse than most people think they can....

david

[blykins]

Lots of variables, including the pressure plate clamping force, disc material, weight of car, rear end gear, and of course, the talent of the driver.

That King Cobra pressure plate is made by Valeo, and Valeo is used by McLeod as well as some other manufacturers. McLeod just happens to check them out and put a prettier coat of paint on them.

[Danr55]

Centerforce Stage 3 and pretty soon my left leg will be twice a large as my right leg.. 83 pounds to depress that thing..

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by blykins

Lots of variables, including the pressure plate clamping force, disc material, weight of car, rear end gear, and of course, the talent of the driver.

That King Cobra pressure plate is made by Valeo, and Valeo is used by McLeod as well as some other manufacturers. McLeod just happens to check them out and put a prettier coat of paint on them.

Yes they do use the same pressure exact pressure plate,I have a pretty purple McLeod sitting on a shelf in my shop and put the King Cobra pressure plate next to it.......100% identical down to the name (Valeo) AND Valeo part number stamped on it..........That purple paint McLeod uses must be mighty expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same goes for some filters:case in point:was in wally world sometime back getting oil/filter and fuel filters (2) for my F-250 Super Duty diesel truck.Just for the heck of it,I pulled the Ford Motorcraft oil filter out of the box and did the same with a Fram filter, they looked identical,so I looked closer, Motorcraft filter had the exact same Fram part number stamped on it in the exact same place and looked to be the exact same filter,only difference I could find was the Motorcraft filter had an extra Ford part number on it next to the Fram part number and instead of the Fram name,it had the Motorcraft name........
Guess which one was more expensive????? about 25% more expensive!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes it pays to compare and check prices....

David

[Rjw289]

Center force

[RET_COP]

McLeod Super Street Pro 11" Diaphragm, smooth and strong.

[eschaider]

I chose to go the dual disc path but decided to build the clutch myself. I got a deal ($80) on a FRPP billet steel flywheel. It started out SFI approved before I cut it for heat shield biscuits and swiss cheesed the perimeter. I used a 10.4" FRPP M7563-C302N pressure plate with the high ratio diaphragm spring for a reduced pedal pressure. The Floater came from Crower and was one of their 10.5" blown alcohol pieces with a 0.350" thickness if I remember correctly. The stand bolts are ARP 2000 rod bolts and the actual stands are 1.25" steel bar I machined to look like stands. The replaceable heat shield biscuits I bought from Crower. They come from a 10.5" slider assembly for a blown alcohol clutch — again. The real benefit is the ability to replace them as a consumable instead of surfacing the flywheel or buying a new one.

Here is a pic of the pieces all laid out.



The discs were a little challenging at first. Then I remembered a clutch shop that made clutches for farm tractors. I stopped by and explained what I was attempting to do. He said no problem, I make clutches for tractors that haven't been made for 50 years. This is a walk in the park. The rest as the saying goes was history.

I used an organic facing because I was after street manners. The hubs are unsprung and the friction material uses a marcel spring between itself and the drive plate. A marcel spring is a wavy spring sort of like a bellevue washer but wavier (if there is such a word). The idea is as the clutch engages the marcel spring provides a soft engagement because the friction material literally compresses the marcel spring preventing the grabby experience solid hub discs usually provide.

The entire clutch assembly looks like this,



Stuff like stand height is relatively easy to noodle out. It is simply the additional height added by the floater and additional disc plus clutch pack clearance in the released condition.

All in, the cost including the drills, reamers and carbide cutting tools was around $625 if I remember correctly. Depending on what you can source parts for and how much effort you want to spend in searching out deals your mileage may vary.

Almost forgot the clutch cover is the same one Ford calls the King Cobra and Brent nailed as a Valeo unit back in post 12.

If you are motivated and want to have some fun making stuff, this kind of a project will put a smile on your face.


Ed

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Danr55

Centerforce Stage 3 and pretty soon my left leg will be twice a large as my right leg.. 83 pounds to depress that thing..

You should never really have any issues with pushing the pedal down on a modern clutch. Back in the 60's/70's, 3000 lb clamping force pressure plates were all the rage, but in modern time, we get it done with 2200-2400 lb pieces.

If you're struggling with the clutch pedal in a Cobra, chances are the master cylinder bore is too large.