As far as all available pressure plates for LT1s go, Valeo has the patent on the only two designs that are available - the stock LT1 pressure plate and the LT4 pressure plate. All aftermarket companies use some variation of the LT4 pp. For instance, SLP's version has holes drilled in it for reduced mass. Given that information, the general consensus here is that all aftermarket pressure plates are equal as far as clamping force is concerned. It is only their discs that make the difference between brands.

With that information in mind, my question is, if I simply go with a Mcleod 7500 RPM single disc and SLP pressure plate, then I essentially get a McLeod single disc clutch, don't I?

How would this combination compare against a ceramic disc Spec Stage III clutch? I want neck snapping shifts out my clutch setup. I don't want clutch feel to soften and slip from repeated 2-3 upshifts.

A new SLP pressure plate w/ throwout bearing + McLeod 7500 RPM single disc will cost me roughly the same as a low mileage Spec Stage II that I can pick up. Which one should I go for? Does the SLP pressure plate have a short pedal throw like the Spec Stage III?

Lots of questions, I know... but I appreciate any help I can get on this topic. Thanks .

 

All Pressure P's are not equal.

I have the SLP PP with the 7500 rpm Mcleod single disc. This is the setup you want, don't get a used Spec.

 

Please elaborate. I thought everybody got their pressure plates from Valeo and either painted them or ground off Valeo name or both.

Check out Brent's comparo of a few clutches here

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/fbody/clutch.htm

So which is a 'grabbier' setup - the Spec Stage 3 or McLeod single disc?

 

The holes on the slp PP create less area for the PP to press against the clutch disc. Less area, but same pressure results more holding power on the disk. Kinda how a 4 puck grabs harder than a six puck disc.

The springs in a stock valeo PP and an LT4 plate are different, the lt4 plate will hold more.

The "fins" that hold the TO bearing on a SLP PP are also beefier.

Defintelty get the SLP PP. The reason I recommend the Mcleod single disc is the hub, if you just look at how the hub is connected to the disc, that alone is worth the upgrade over the disc SLP provides with their slp pp.

When I got my SLP Clutch KIt, I completely broke the hub from the disc, I swapped in a new disc and it holds fine. 423rwhp 432rwtq

 

Yeah I know that. when i said that all aftermarket LT1 PPs are created equal, I was referring to performance replacements only, not stock ones. I do know that the LT4 PP has much beefier springs/fingers which exert a lot more force than the stock LT1 PP.

Can you describe the engagement characteristics of your McLeod single disc? How far in does it have to be depressed to completely disengage it and is it grabby like the Spec Stage III? I don't mind getting used to the chattery Spec; it's the BAMMMM shifts that I love about it. I've been sold on that clutch since I saw a 383 LT1 car with 4.11s in the STOCK 10 BOLT and drag slicks at the track pulling 4500 rpm launches all night long.

 

The clutch does have some chatter.

It does have some smoothness to it, try it you won't be disapointed.

 

I think I've asked both Spec and Mcleod about this. It's been awhile, but one or both of them said their PPs are designed hold significantly more than the stock LT4 PP due to heavier springs. On something like this, it's very easy to just call and ask them...

 

As far as appearances go, the Spec pressure plate looks just like a repainted LT4 PP. The PP on the Street Twin, however, doesn't look anything like an LT4 PP

 

...and my old Napa PP looks identical to the LT4 PP after looking through the comparo from this link...

... has same amount and design of the fingers but, as stated above, probably have different rates of tension.

Could Valeo be contacted for a cheaper price on PP

Seriously, it is almost tempting to run the Mcleod single disk w/ the stock PP I have, since I only have 5K miles on it.

 

I thought this thread was long forgotten. I went for the McLeod single disc with SLP PP setup. Overall I was more than satisified with the result. No sign of slippage, I got the BAM! neck snapping shifts I wanted and the clutch was much easier to modulate too. However I could have done without the chatter, which used to vary with operating temperature, but wasn't too bad because it taught me to take off with minimal clutch slippage. The pedal needed to be pushed all the way down to the floor and still didn't completely disengage for the first few days but once it was broken in, the pedal regained its normal travel and engagement characteristics. It was a very grabby clutch though - I scratched 3rd gear a couple of times at the track. Highly recommended for mildly modded cars if you can live with the slight chatter.

 

I used a McLeod single disk/pressure plate setup on my LT1. I had some problems with the install (couldn't get the new clutch/pp/billet flywheel to completely disengage. I bought all of these from Mcleod directly.

Anyway the point is the chief tech guy (older) at Mcleod said they just paint a stock PP red. At which point I was a little upset that I wasted my money on a new PP when the old one worked fine.
He recommended the adjustable clutch master from McCleod which I purchased and this solved the problem of clutch disengagement.

As for the clutch...it is a single disk (organic/ceramic). It does hook a little better than the stock one (easily breaks loose on the 1/2 shift) and there is some chatter occasionally.

PS - I originally ordered a Spec clutch from an online dealer and once the tranny was out of the car I realized it was for an LS1 ! They didn't have a SPEC for an LT1 in stock so I went with McCleod

 

Recommendations on where to find the LT4 PP and/or SLP PP for a good price?