I blew up my clutch last weekend. I had the car taken to a local shop who replaced the clutch with an OEM unit. They replaced the whole clutch assembly as well as resurfaced the flywheel. When I picked the car up, the pedal was unusually stiff. I took it back and told them it didn't feel right.

The manager told me that is how a good clutch is supposed to feel, which I know is complete BS, but doesn't necessarily mean the install was bad. He also told me they bled the lines ad nauseum, so it could not be air in the lines.

The clutch feels like it sits lower than it had in the past. It is very tight, to the point that my leg was a little sore after driving it home. It also seems to be either on or off, there is very little play in the clutch at all. Not a lot of room for slipping it when taking off in first gear. When letting off the clutch in first when taking off slowly, it seems to chatter a lot as well before it is completely engaged.

Also, it must be completely slammed to floor to shift. It seems very jumpy/grabby as soon as it comes just the littlest bit off the floor.

I know this isn't normal, as this is the 3rd clutch I've had on the car so far and the first to be this stiff(last clutch was an LS6, should have been stiffer if I'm not mistaken). Any idea what the problem could be?

 

I doubt it's actual OEM as in AC/Delco GM if it came from any place other than a dealer. That said, it's going to feel different than stock.

It could be just the new pressure plate making for the stiff feel. Do LS1 cars have many different makes of pressure plates? I do not know. LT1 cars do not have many options for pressure plates so the spring rate is the same for all afaik.

You could also research Mcleod's adustable master cylinder. It could fix you pedal height and possible help you find the feel you are looking for to some extend.

If your clutch is on/off and chattering it usually gets better after a 1k or so. It is just the combo of the springs, clutch, flywheel, etc. Not much you can do about that if you have it.