What does everyone have for experience with different clutches?

Trying to decide between Luk, Southbend, and Valair. I would prefer organic, and need something that will stand up to heavy towing behind a 110 pump (300whp/700wtq nominal)

To start, theres a Luk in my pickup now, never had a problem one other than its old, weak, and oil soaked with over 170k miles on it.

Replacements with flywheel are +/- $300

Ive heard hit and miss on Southbend, apparently its the go-to clutch for a Cummins app. They offer a 400/800 organic for $500, but mention "higher clamp load" i dont want an over stiff pedal, nor to be having master/slave issue all the time.

Dont know anything about Valair.

I think Justin had a regular Luk SMF that didnt start slipping until over 325whp, but i cant remember. Apples to potatoes, but also have a Luk smf in the boss' 97 stroke, and with exhaust, injectors and 6pos. Clutch still holds strong.

 

I think I'm going luk, he was slipping the southbend most recently (bronco). He also had a valair in smogie that was slipping at less than 6k miles, they refused to warranty it (smogie). This is what I read on his posts, not my experience but I prefer good service so valair is out for me. From the research I've done it basically comes down to preference SB vs LUK.

 

This is a really good topic and I'm glad you brought it up. I am interested in what people have to say on this...

The only input I have at this time is that the Luk clutch that Jan and I put in his truck has really nice pedal feel, it is very smooth, and you can start out in 2nd gear even with 3.55's (close ratio ZF). I could not start out in 2nd even with 4.10's on my T19 clutch, so I am impressed. That said, I do not know how the Luk holds up to high tq and hp. My only experience was driving it behind a 6.9 NA.

The clutch I have for my build is Justin Wheeler's used 13" Southbend. He drilled out a 6.9 flywheel for the SD pressure plate. In talking to him, he said Southbend sourced the parts from different applications, but it was not necessarily Southbend branded stuff. I think the pressure plate might actually be Luk as well. I know it held up to some decent numbers, but I have no idea what kind of manners it has on the street. If I don't like it I will probably buy a Luk just for its friendly constitution even if it does end up slipping when you really give it hell. I liked it that much.

 

Thats the same opinion i have, Luk has excellent quality and ive never heard of problems from them. I think the original clutch in smogie was a luk, when he an early version of the db4 on it, it "peaked out at 342whp/759wtq @2200rpm". Pulled directly from his build thread, but still dunno what clutch it was, so hopefully he chimes in, if thats the Luk, that sounds like the ideal clutch for a 110 pump. Especially with a nice master / slave, the Powertorque unit from O'Riellys is one nice peice, as ive said before, pre-bled, iron bodies and pistons, and only $200

 

I put a Luk SMF kit in my '88 after the replacement DMF self destructed. As Ford F834 mentioned, the pedal feel is nice, really nice. Its pretty much like the clutch in any other normal vehicle I've driven. Night and day difference than the DMF which felt like I was going to blow out my knee whenever I was on the pedal.

My '93 has what I believe is a Southbend DMF. Thats what the PO said, and I'm pretty sure thats what the receipt says. I fricking hate it, it feels exactly like the DMF did. Add to that, it engages in the top of the pedal, so its hard as a rock for like 1.5-2 inches, then you're wasting the rest of the pedal travel holding that force. Versus the LUK where its soft the whole way and the clutch engages near the bottom of the pedal, a much more effective use of leverage.

Go from one truck to the other its very noticeable, I get into the '88 and its like 'wow, this is nice and comfy to drive!' After driving the '93 all day, especially in traffic, my leg is sore.

I've had no trouble with the LUK setup, as mentioned I can quite easily start in 2nd with my 3.55's. I do tow a 7,000 or so pound trailer with it regularly and haven't noticed any slippage, I do have a turbo, but its a stock fuel system on a worn engine so the power isn't anything fancy.

 

Talked to justin on facebook, and he was running the Luk SMF. Bang for the buck, i dont see how you can get a better match for a 110 pump. $395 for clutch and flywheel or $275 if you already have the fly. From what ive read, you want about a 15% buffer between clutch rated power and actual flywheel power. Worst case scenario you get 14% with the luk and 110cc, good enough for me.