New Panoz GTS owner - What Clutch Should I Use

I am new to the Panoz cars, purchased a GTS out of California. I need to install new clutch and was looking for advice. The engine is the standard Ford 351 0.030" over, it had a Valeo clutch in it. Any feedback on units to avoid or that really work well would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Erich

I bought a used 7.25 QM triple disc unit and put new bolts and a new flex plate in it and it has been awesome. Works way better than the Mcloed that I spent a fortune on.

Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quarter-Master-Super-Pro-Triple-Disc-Clutch-7-25-26-Spline-NASCAR-/150892125175?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2321df1bf7&vxp=mtr

I am new to the Panoz cars, purchased a GTS out of California. I need to install new clutch and was looking for advice. The engine is the standard Ford 351 0.030" over, it had a Valeo clutch in it. Any feedback on units to avoid or that really work well would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Erich

Erich, is the Valeo a 1.5" or 11" single dry plate clutch? My car came with a Valeo from the Panoz School.

I ditched this and converted to a tripple plate as well. Upside of the tripple plate is awesome torque capacity, low weight and inertia, very reliable (if you dont try to slip them all the time) and you can pick them up very reasonably by buying used NASCAR items. Downsides are initial setup cost, can be a real mongrel to fit engine to trans is in the car due 3 plates to slip input shaft through (even with an alignment tool), you cant treat them like a dry plate clutch re slippage and they are a little more aggresive on engagement (but not unreasonably if your pedal/master cyl and slave/throwout are set up correctly).

At the end of the day whether a tripple plate is for you really comes down to what you want to do with the car. I went that way as I have used them before and had great success. I have found they are the most reliable way to harness anything with big torque. Have tried lots of other solutions but these win hands down.

Kel.

I am new to the Panoz cars, purchased a GTS out of California. I need to install new clutch and was looking for advice. The engine is the standard Ford 351 0.030" over, it had a Valeo clutch in it. Any feedback on units to avoid or that really work well would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Erich


I agree with everything Brian & Kel said. You just can't beat a Tilton 7.25 -- on the track. My GTS came with a Quarter Master "Extreme V" aluminum flywheel and 8.5 single floater clutch -- it's about two pounds heavier than a 7.25 Tilton with a billet steel flywheel. The QM has worked just fine on the track and is MUCH more paddock friendly than the Tilton. I'm swapping motors presently and (after talking with QM tech) have decided to keep the Quarter Master for now. Be aware that throwout bearing adjustment is extremely critical on the Tilton and you can destroy the diaphragm by over-traveling it just once. Neither clutch should be used to drive on the trailer but if you do, it would definitely kill the Tilton sooner.

Trailer winch = money well spent. Haven't driven a car on or in a trailer in years. No need to squirm out the cage/window opening either.

I had nothing but problems with the QM Extreme V. They are junk in my opinion. Tilton or QM triple 7.25 is the way to go. I had no setup issues or installation issues. I use a broken tranny shaft as my alignment tool and that is WAY better then the plastic ones.

IMHO

I had nothing but problems with the QM Extreme V. They are junk in my opinion. Tilton or QM triple 7.25 is the way to go. I had no setup issues or installation issues. I use a broken tranny shaft as my alignment tool and that is WAY better then the plastic ones.

IMHO

Thanks Brian. I'm still mocking-up my engine change so the timing is right. What sort of issues did you have with your Extreme V?
Bill.

Its been a long time since I pulled them out. I think the last time I used them was 2006. I dont remember the exact issue. Sorry.

Thanks Brian. I'm still mocking-up my engine change so the timing is right. What sort of issues did you have with your Extreme V?
Bill.

Bill, the issues with the Extreme V intimated by Brian will most likely relate to criticality of setup of the single disc Extreme V and most likely ongoing wear adjustment requirements. The GTS also suffered from an unreliable Tilton slave cylinder (seal leak issues) as well which may have exacerbated these problems.

Pse note that Quartermaster clutches are generally an excellent product. I am using a Quarter Master Pro Series 7.25" tripple plate which I paid USD $400'ish for 2 surplus new on EBay. I sold 1 that paid for both and have now done 15 race hours on this now and it has been superb. It has been installed on a custom machined 4130 flywheel and I have used a Tilton hydraulic release bearing designed for the TKO600. The clutch was easy to setup, has great progressive engagement (it has enough feel that if I was foolish enough I could drive the car onto my trailer.....a practice I find mechanically appalling!!), has not required adjusting and judging by plate wear will go 20'ish hours on a set of plates and likely 40 - 60 hours on a set of "floater plates". Wear will depend on how many standing start races you do and how much pit manouvering etc. I push the car around the pits and mainly do rolling start races so will get better life from the clutch.

Kel.

We use the standard as supplied by Panoz 8.5" single disk clutch. We have 2 GTS cars and they have worked fine. The initial set up and spacing is a PIA and maybe not a "do it yourself job" but the instructions are pretty clear. It has to be shimmed properly. Works fine for 450hp and race/padoc use. No race clutch should be driven onto a trailer unless smooth easy roll up ... else you are burning money.

It would be unusual for a GTS to have a Valejo or other clutch in it as that would not comply with most series limitations unless you run in an unlimited class or just do track days. For example SCCA GT2 requires the Panoz (QM) clutch and this may not be the best choice.

Kevin
GTS
997 Cup