You are here

Home

Clutch - Drag Racing

 


 
 

AFT Multi Disc, Multi (18) Arm, Multi Stage, Titanium, 9 Stand,
Top Fuel , Slider, Centrifugal Clutch
( shown 10.5 and 11 inch)  aprox $10,000.00/each


 
 

Aluminum RAM 8 bolt Hemi (early flange)  2 Disc Sintered Iron,
Pedal Style, Chevy Starter Ring Gear, 6 release Arms,
6 Stand (Titanium), , Pro Mod Clutch  aprox $4,000.00/each
 

 

 

Flange / Crankshaft  
6 Bolt  Chrysler
most common flange slant/6 to 440

Flywheel and flexplate are located  (centered) on raised area in center of crankshaft

Note:
no bronze bushing for 4speed standard transmission input shaft , but crankshaft is machined to install a bushing

8 Bolt Chrysler
same dimensions as 6 bolt (above) with 8 bolts

Flywheel and flexplate are located (centered) on raised area in center of crankshaft

Note:
no bronze bushing for 4speed standard transmission input shaft , but crankshaft is machined to install a bushing

8 Bolt Chrysler /old style 392 hemi
( this is what all fuel / TAD/ FC/ and most promods use today)

Flywheel is located (centered) on outside of crankshaft flange center is removed like early Chryslers This is preferred because it allows for larger input shaft bearings needed on
multidisc clutches

Note:
shown with adapter ring installed to allow use of flexplate or flywheel that doesn't locate on outside of crankshaft flange. in other word converted to 8 bolt later style shown above
 

  Chevy
   

 

Flywheel Material
  cast iron, steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium
Size / Diameter
from 5" to 12 inches

 

Disc / Floaters  
 
   
   
   
   
   

 

Pressure plates
( hat/ clutch/ donut/ pressure-plate )
 

Automotive Street/Strip  
 
There are 3 Basic types of pressure plates.
diaphragm-type - static pressure (center) street /strip - low pedal pressures
spring-type
- Borg & Beck - static pressure (right) street/strip
- Long - static pressure and Centrifugal (left)competition / very adjustable

springs force pressure plate against discs - Springs provide all or most of locking force,centrifugal force added by arms extending out of the end of arms ncreases the force as engine RPM goes up

this example is a 2 disc, aluminum flywheel , chevy starter ring, long style cover, adjustable springs (threw holes in cover ), adj centrifugal force (by adding bolts nuts and washers to 3 arms)

Exceptions

In auto racing there is always exceptions
this is a diaphragm clutch with centrifugal arms added ?
 

 



Pressure plates - Slider Clutches

 

 

If it is desirable to program the clutch forces to engine RPM (Drag Racing) then reducing (or eliminating) the springs (static) and using the centrifugal weighted arms for most or all clamping forces is an option. In drag racing we call this a slider clutch . at an idle the clutch may not even provide enough force to  move the vehicle , sometimes a clutch pedal isn't needed , like an automatic/converter equipped car. Sometimes described like a snowmobile centrifugal clutch
 
  Pedal

springs force pressure plate against discs, needs a pedal to launch race car, but force primarly centrifugal
 

  Centrifugal

spring hold pressure plate away from discs, may not need a pedal to launch race car, but force only centrifugal
 

Multi Stage

Note :
- arms installed are 6 base arms same length (height from release bearing)
this makes it a single stage possibly an A fuel or Nostalgia

- arms on left can be added in empty slots on cover, or even replace base arms
this would be added to clamping force of pressure plat as release bearing is moved back by hydraulic/pneumatic clutch management system (keep in mind there will be an
imbalance if arms aren't kept equal weight - which is impossible so bye bye rear bearing)

 

Bearings  
 
input shaft
 
Release Bearings

There is several inside diameters , outside diameters, depths, and an infinite list of custom lengths of the sliders to allow for the multitude of clutch sizes and input shafts sizes to the reverser or transmissions

 

Clutch Managment
(multi stage TF)
 
Fuel and clutch release bearing position - air management system
 
Cannon/Reverser
Hydraulic cylinder to control position of release bearing
 

 

Bellhousing
Titanium - with Funny car pedal , blow back tabs , Quad bolts (4 - 3/4" cornerbolts), and magnesium spacer to move release bearing slightly further into transmission area,  studs for lenco bolt pattern
Material :
- Aluminum (yes there is still some out there)(* no longer certifiable )
- Steel Thin (* no longer certifiable )
- Steel with aluminum inspection cover (* no longer certifiable )
- Steelwith steel cover and clearance hole cover

- Titanium with all titanium components including bolts


Steel - 8 5/8 with FC pedal - covers are not aluminum

Depth:
- stock - this is lakewood style stock , usually curved on top to fit door cars
- less than 8" really old - but still out there
- 81/8 " - these may be re certifiable for multi disc clutches - usually 2 disk
- 8 5/8 " - most common today 3 disk alcohol some 4 disk fuel
- 8 5/8"-converted to 9.4"
- 9.4 " Fuel multi disk


Stock style Note: shown is with removable
bottom and is no longer approved

 

8  5/8" converted to 9.4"
 Note: spacer plate between engine and  front of bell housing,  and spacer with large internal hole so release bearing actually sits in front pocket of cannon to achieve enough clearance for 4-5 disk multi-stage clutch
 

Note: (right) cross shaft has also been moved further away from center  - to clear moving clutch parts and provide better geometry for fork and release bearing wide clutch fork to allow bearing to sit between arms - for additional clearance