well i had a spec stage 3 clutch, and its busted...it came in the car and the guy who built the car talked very highly of it. and now after reading on them in past threads on here i've learned alot of people had them go bad...so have they reworked their design?..what other clutches are u guys going with?

All clutches are as good as the foot behind them. If the other owner slipped the clutch alot or dumped the clutch a lot then sure they won't last very long.
If you are nice on takeoffs and such then spec will be fine for ya.
I run a spec3+ in my car with not one problem. They had an issue before when the spline was put in backwards, but I think that is fixed now. call them talk with spec and tell them what you want to do with your car and how you run. They will match you right up with the correct clutch for you.

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88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. 12" Vette Rotors,Custom stuff done

quote Originally posted by i151: well i had a spec stage 3 clutch, and its busted...it came in the car and the guy who built the car talked very highly of it. and now after reading on them in past threads on here i've learned alot of people had them go bad...so have they reworked their design?..what other clutches are u guys going with?

with these V8 installs, ALOT of people are popping springs in stage 3 spec clutches, because there is little to no engagement time on these clutches. for racing, a quick engagement is great, but for the street, it sucks...theres a company called "clutchnet" that now creates a clutch set that has a small lip that encases the springs so they cant pop out due to the low end TQ of the V8's

quote Originally posted by stickpony: with these V8 installs, ALOT of people are popping springs in stage 3 spec clutches, because there is little to no engagement time on these clutches. for racing, a quick engagement is great, but for the street, it sucks...theres a company called "clutchnet" that now creates a clutch set that has a small lip that encases the springs so they cant pop out due to the low end TQ of the V8's

LOL

quote Originally posted by stickpony: with these V8 installs, ALOT of people are popping springs in stage 3 spec clutches, because there is little to no engagement time on these clutches. for racing, a quick engagement is great, but for the street, it sucks...theres a company called "clutchnet" that now creates a clutch set that has a small lip that encases the springs so they cant pop out due to the low end TQ of the V8's

What??? Funny my SPEC 3 has been fine for 4 years now which includes racing on road courses and drag strips.
The SPEC 3+ version is suppose to be even better. As for springs popping, even the centerforce clutches have had springs pop loose.
All brands of clutches that have springs have a small lip to hold them in.

If you want springless, The SPEC Stage 4 with 4 pucks works very well for street and racing.

Like Revin says, It's all in the foot behind them.

Installed sprung and unsprung spec clutches... Not much of a difference from what I have found.

The sprung st3 in my friends car killed 5 transmissions, until one of the transmissions fought back throwing the diff into the clutch.

I have had very good luck with spec clutches behind my SBC. I prefer the stage 3+ for the improved drivability vs. the stage 3... but they both are very strong and I have never had any slippage issues with either of them.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 12-16-2008).]

I'm in the same boat.

I put the Spec 3 behind my ZZ4 and 4 speed about 18 months ago. After about 1500 miles (last month) it suddenly starting making a grinding noise on some engagements and acting up. I suspect, like several others here, that one of the springs has popped out. I am not happy about taking it apart to replace it, since I have to do it in my driveway. I read some of the other threads and ended up deciding on the Spec 4. If I have to go through the trouble of dropping the cradle in my driveway again, I am also going to put in a six speed. I already got a set of used G6 axles and will be getting the F40 tranny next month. I will probably get Archie's economy kit when the weather warms up and change it all out.

I really think the biggest issue with clutches are they are not being broke in properly.

I got a cluchnet setup for my 3800/F40 swap, not in yet so I dont know how it will fair. However, I can tell you the guys at cluchnet are awesome to deal with. I basically ordered custom everything and it was wayyyyy cheaper that what I was expecting. I can say the quality of their clutches is top notch, but I wont really know until I put some power through it...

anyone happy with the clutchnet clutches?

Clutch net stage 3 (6-puck kevlar)


SPEC 3 (6-puck kevlar) This is the new design. The old design only had 4 springs and rivets.


The decision is yours. Personally the SPEC 3 only lasted through one launch at 1/2 throttle for me (4.9) before it lost a spring. This was after a 1000 mile engine and clutch break in period. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 12-17-2008).]

Lots of threads on this, I haven't got mine yet but my Center force clutch is slipping and will need replace sooner or later.
I plan on going with a spring-less hub. I don't drive the car every day so it wont matter if its a little harsher but the piece of mind not worrying about some spring popping out.
You also have to watch for the hub, they are installed back wards on some of them.
Good luck

MJ you have a PM

Never again will I use a clutch with springs in a V8. Maybe in a stock V6. Go with the Stage 4 unsprung.

i have the spec stage 4+ full face springless in my 350sbc (may even be the first to have one istalled in a fiero)
ive got about 3500 miles unfortunately i didnt understand the importance of having your motor LOCKED down tight
and it took it hard on the break in. its harsh in traffic but if you wind it up to about 1800rpm you can clutch it out pretty
smooth. it holds like a clamp now and i think if i had my motor LOCKED down from the beginning it would've been an even
better clutch. i have too drop my motor this winter to replace the cradle and will swap the clutch out than even though i
believe i could get another season out of it. there expensive but i will go with another 4+ i believe but i think i will get rid
of the aluminum flywheel and go with a steel 1 instead.

I have a spec 3 in mine going on 4 years and the car is daily driven. The clutch has held up very well to the abuse I put it though. I do not treat this car nicely. It has seen autox, drag racing, 4hrs of stop and go traffic, etc. Unfortunately after 10s of thousands of miles, it can no longer contain my turbocharged beast. The clutch slips at the top of 4th, and will not hold or bring the rpms down on a 2nd gear launch.. It was WELL worth the $240 I paid for the kit back in 05.

I'm pretty sure my next clutch setup will be a custom disk with a fairly typical pressureplate.

Edit to add: I blew up my Clutchnet solid marcel disc after a couple months and that was with a 2.8+nitrous. The splines stripped cleanly off the hub. I'm making about triple that HP now using the spec.

[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 12-18-2008).]

I may go back with a spec clutch, I'm a little nervous tho. I don't want to ruin this tranny

Well, I'm dissappointed in my SPEC ST3 sprung clutch. I did the breakin period as stated and have barely less than 1000 miles on it. It took me a year to get it in the swap and then I Drove it carefully. I also had my 5 speed 88 Getrag tranny rebuilt to make sure it was all within specifications with bearings etc....

It blasted apart on me last night coming home from work at 10pm. I was moderately on it going up a hill to 60-65 mph when it made sounds like it lost a couple of disc springs bouncing around and then prevented my clutch from shifting. I suspect there are springs between my pressure plate and disc. I'll have to drop the cradle to verify.

I should have gone with my original gut reaction and bought my second Clutchnet set-up from Igor. He originally built me a double diaphram sprung pressure plate and kevlar sprung disc for 350HP. It never failed me under WOT, heavy launches, some abuse and it never slipped, never came apart on my 3800SC with modifications.

Instead, I bought the SPEC Stage 3 package because they had a flywheel that fit the N* Getrag set-up that I was building. Basically SPEC said no problem it will be fine with 350HP. I must say the SPEC folks were good at listening at what I wanted and had good customer service and shipped quickly. And, the clutch never slipped. Seemed all good at the time.

With all the bad reports about the ST3 sprung disc, I have to say it is true and has also come to my 88GT Northstar too. I'm disappointed because its been hardly used, broken in correctly and definitely not abused. It took me a year to get it all together and so there's obviously no warranty and now no desire to repurchase from SPEC.

I guess its time to do some clutch research here in Portland with someone local to make something that works correctly and that is reliable, if that is possible.

Thats sucks!

I was in the same boat. SPEC 3 only lasted 1k miles. I now use a clutchnet. I already have 3k miles on the clutchnet and its still going strong. 6 puck ceramic sprung disc.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 11-17-2009).]

Add another Spec 3 failure for a guy in my club w a 3800SC. His Spec lasted 1000 miles. Never sounded right from the gitgo. Always made a whining sound between shifts and the hydraulic system was bled properly with a pump so its disengaged nicely.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

I went with a stage 4 spring less on my 4.9

While we are on the topic.

What is the correct break in procedure?

According to the documentation that came with it, it was more or less just taking it easy the first 500 miles. Is this the case?

My understanding of the correct breakin procedure is just drive it like normal. Don't baby it but don't pound on it either. Give it between 500-1000 miles before you push it. And try not to slip the clutch too much.

pretty simple then

Yep. That's what I did. I just can't believe SPEC is that weak. Everything was good at the beginning of the break-in period. No noise. No slipping. No unusual performance issues. Its like it just let go with no warning under normal use. Its Discouraging and unacceptable to me. You all know how much work it is to get the cradle in and out by yourself with no auto lift.

Its going to take me a while to get back to it since the end of the semester is near for grading, the Thanksgiving holiday is around the corner and I need to fill an Elk tag in Eastern Oregon. Took off the insurance on the Fiero today.

So, reliable options sound like another Clutchnet unit since I had good performance with my last one, no spring disc for other potential brands, and I hope my Portland clutch disc builder for my diesel Suzukis. He ought to have some pointers for me.

I'll have to cross my fingers for now. I have the Spec stage III HK and will report any issues that come up when it happens.

Charlie

I hope you don't have a problem and that yours is smooth sailing. Sounds like its a 50/50 clutch brand.

[This message has been edited by IXSLR8 (edited 11-18-2009).]

Well since this was updated, I will never use another spec again. That clutch I posted above failed, then another one failed and now my current spec slips. They were worthless to deal with on the phone. They wouldn't help me out with the clutch THEY recommended after extensive discussion.

quote Originally posted by Jncomutt: Well since this was updated, I will never use another spec again. That clutch I posted above failed, then another one failed and now my current spec slips. They were worthless to deal with on the phone. They wouldn't help me out with the clutch THEY recommended after extensive discussion.

Wow! Quite an update. I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck. It seems as if the reviews on SPEC are dropping to less than half positive. Are there any more people with experience using their solid hub clutchs?

I'm crossing my fingers on my SPEC 3 (~700 miles so far)

quote Originally posted by IXSLR8: Yep. That's what I did. I just can't believe SPEC is that weak. Everything was good at the beginning of the break-in period. No noise. No slipping. No unusual performance issues. Its like it just let go with no warning under normal use. Its Discouraging and unacceptable to me. You all know how much work it is to get the cradle in and out by yourself with no auto lift. Its going to take me a while to get back to it since the end of the semester is near for grading, the Thanksgiving holiday is around the corner and I need to fill an Elk tag in Eastern Oregon. Took off the insurance on the Fiero today. So, reliable options sound like another Clutchnet unit since I had good performance with my last one, no spring disc for other potential brands, and I hope my Portland clutch disc builder for my diesel Suzukis. He ought to have some pointers for me.

When your ready to drop that cradle again PM me. I'd be happy to help you out. It goes much faster with two poeple.

Be sure to call spec and let them know what is happening! they will work with ya and maybe improve their clutches.

I complained to spec a lot about my clutches. They wouldn't help me, they said my clutches were contaminated. This is simply not true.

its harsh in traffic but if you wind it up to about 1800rpm you can clutch it out pretty

Bought a 4.9 conversion in an 88GT w/5 speed. Was told I had a SPEC clutch (not sure which one though)

Read RCPBUILDERS post about getting the engine to 1800 before letting out the clutch, I had a lot of bucking starting out in first (smooth in the other gears). So, for grins I tried 2000 before letting it out in first...works much better.

Very true, its rough below 1800-2000, at first I thought it was just me. Glad someone could confirm that on the stage 4. Very quick to lock up though when you are driving. I went for a canyon run and it was difficult to restrain myself, its actually pretty easy to chirp the tires on downshifts, reminds me of my bandit.

quote Originally posted by Jncomutt: I complained to spec a lot about my clutches. They wouldn't help me, they said my clutches were contaminated. This is simply not true.

I once called Spec to help a friend who was having problems with his Spec 3. The customer service rep was extremely rude and he was quick to blame the installation that was in fact done properly. In short he was a real lowlife, a flaming as*hole par excellance! As far as I'm concerned, Spec quality control sucks, they sell poorly designed garbage and hire idiots in their customer service department.
Spec is a class Z operation. The absolute "bottom of the barrel". I'll NEVER deal with them.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

I've got a Spec 2 in my 3.4 coupe.
Chatters when it's cold. Slips when it's hot.

Never again.

The good news is that my expectations are now so low that any use from the clutch will be a plus...

Charlie

I am running a Spec 3+ with positive results for over a year. However, the 6-speed clutch setup differs from the stock type, which may make a world of difference.
It is a sprung hub. If I ever break the springs, then I will be going with a Stage 4+
I really think you guys (with high torque engines) need to step away from those cheap Stage 3 and 4 clutches and spend the extra $150 for a full faced Carbon-Metallic 3+ or 4+.
The engagement and longetivity on the "Plus" clutches are far superior.

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87 GT Tilt Clip-Widebody-RamAir-Fastback-GlassHatch Powered by SBC 383 6-speed w/ NOS
Build Thread

Goals in Life:
1. Get Married..........Check!
2. Build Dream Car..........Check!
3. Get Wife to Come Back...

Thanks for the offer Fieroseverywhere.... Looks like we are neighbours, eh.