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How much HP is a stock clutch good for?

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Old 06-26-2003, 09:56 AM
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How much HP is a stock clutch good for?

Im just curious how much HP a stock LT1 clutch can hold. I have heard that they can handle over 400RWHP. Is this true?
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Old 06-26-2003, 01:59 PM
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I seem to remember reading that is was good UP TO 400 horse, not past it. I can't remember where I saw it but i'll look and if I find it I'll e-mail it to 'ya.

Jay
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Old 06-26-2003, 02:04 PM
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Back when I last had a stock clutch it would not hold at 320 RWP, but my sixty foot times were in the 1.7 range... It is torque more than hp that will spin a clutch.
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Old 06-26-2003, 02:35 PM
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The best I dyno'd at was 287/321 and I've gotten over 170 passes out of it and 74,000 miles before it has started to act up. It still drives just fine, it just doesn't like launches at the track with drag radials anymore.

- Brent
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Old 06-26-2003, 08:00 PM
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I dont understand how some will slip and others wont. I have a complete bolt on car with a 100shot and it has never slipped even on nitrous. That would be close to 400RWHP with the spray.
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Old 06-26-2003, 08:04 PM
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Mine burnt up real nice doing a burnout at the track. After that it smelled badly for about 3 weeks but drove fine. Don't smell it any more though. All I had was BFG drag radials and a couple bolt ons. Stock clutch still drives ok but I'm going with a better clutch so I dont have to worry about it.
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Old 06-26-2003, 09:31 PM
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Im about to install my new cam kit and I just want to know if my clutch will be fine with it. It never slips with the NOS it should be fine.
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Old 06-26-2003, 09:33 PM
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My stock clutch lasted to nearly 65k to 70k miles I do believe. 50k of that was with between 350 and 400 rwhp. No problems. In fact, I've had the majority of my problems with the "high performance" clutches
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Old 06-26-2003, 09:41 PM
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The reason Im asking is because Im gonna need a new clutch here pretty soon. Alot of people I know with performance clutches have problems with them like you said Brent. My buddy has a Centerforce that went out quick. I really dont wanna spend an *** of money on an expensive clutch if I can get another stock replacement clutch cheaper and it last longer.
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Old 06-26-2003, 09:48 PM
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I only got my Spec Stage 3 because I got a killer deal on it from a guy brand new. If not for that, I would have just gone with an SLP LT4 clutch package.

- Brent
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Old 06-26-2003, 09:55 PM
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How much is the SLP LT4 clutch and how much power is it good for?
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Old 06-26-2003, 10:31 PM
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seems to me its traction that kills clutches more than HP...if your pulling 1.5 or 1.6 60' times I don't think the stock clutch is gonna last no matter how little HP you have. I've heard of people happy with the SLP clutch into the 450RWHP range...not sure what kind of traction they were getting though
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Old 04-23-2018, 12:36 PM
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Re: How much HP is a stock clutch good for?

I guess I'm safe. 375 rwhp, 2700 lbs, helical diff.
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Old 02-13-2020, 06:09 PM
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Re: How much HP is a stock clutch good for?

I just put in a ms4 and ported heads with headers and exhaust and a tune should my stock clutch hold
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Old 02-13-2020, 10:48 PM
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Re: How much HP is a stock clutch good for?

Originally Posted by Josh Coles
I just put in a ms4 and ported heads with headers and exhaust and a tune should my stock clutch hold
What year/engine?
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