I need to buy a new clutch for my T56 swap I'm doing. The motor will be a mild 350 build for 99% street driving. I expect horsepower to be around 300 to 350 max at the flywheel.

I know both of these MFGs make stock clutches but is one better than the other?

Also about how much power can a stock clutch assembly take before it starts to slip?

 

More than likely the LUK clutch will have the Valeo plate.
Valeo makes ALL the pressure plates (pull style) for LTx's.
This inludes SLP, SPEC, Mcleod, Ram, Centerforce, Autozone, Carquest, etc. etc. etc. and others.

Every one of these aftermarket clutch companys have the exact same pressureplate right down to the casting number. Of course some throw a hundred dollar paint job and a fifty dollar sticker on there.

The pressureplates are incapable of being beefed up period, there is nothing that can be done to safely make it stronger.

The key to stronger clutches lies in the disk, the aftermarket makes their own cusom disks out of organic, ceramic,kevlar etc.

The OEM clutches like parts house clutches and luck have the valeo organic disk which works for only bone stock engines.

If you start hopping up the engine it will not take long to slip. My last Valeo disk lasted 6 months and slipped under hard shifts. The custom disk I have now bites like a pit bull and engages and disengages smooth like silk.

 

I'm still running a stock clutch with about 20,000 miles on it and lots of 1/4 mile blasts and it stood up to the #'s in my sig. And yes it was a LUK and has the Valeo pressure plate.

 

That is very interesting info on the pressure plates. So this is what gets me, how can SLP claim 30% more clamping force with the clutch setup they used to sell when they are using a stock disc?

I also just wanted to be sure because both clutch setups claim to be factory replacements.

 

The old LT1 plate has the ribbed fingers, the LT4 has the smooth thicker fingers that claim to be 20-30% stronger than the LT1 plate.
This is how SLP is making the claim.

Of course every other aftermarket clutch company can make the same statement.

I personally think there is barely any difference. I have a very low mile LT1 plate that is stronger than my SLP plate I am using now.

The holes in the SLP cant increase clamping force. There is nothing SLP is doing to beef up the plates, they are what they are.

 

Thanks for all that good information. That will really help me pick out a clutch setup for my car.

 

well, i ordered a spec stage 3 disc, i'm going to try it with my valeo pp. let you all know!

mike