jmd_forest

So .....has anyone discovered a candidate alternative clutch that will actually work in a stock NA? There is simply no justification for a $30 - $50 clutch costing $350.

jmd_forest

FRporscheman

Sorry, I forgot to update. The ford ranger clutch I bought does work for an NA, just not an S or S2. I'm still waiting for the mazda and mitsubishi clutches to arrive.

After I try those two, I'll start trying 240mm clutches for the 951 flywheel.

Smoker324

FrP

Excellent work here -- so you are saying that the 1991 Ford Ranger 3.0 v6 clutch fits the NA with no clearance issues ?

That is excellent.

Thanks for the legwork! Wow.

-Dan c.

speedtek

Some of the Mitsubishi Clutches I looked at have the springs centered with the friction surface and it get too close to the flywheel bolts. The 944 Disc has a long hub towards the torque tube side. Make sure it sits on the shaft and is supported well. I will try to post pics later.

One more thing..... try to post a pic of the clutch you plan to use or other pics. The number and size of the damper springs is important.

FRporscheman

Yup, the 1991 Ford Ranger v6 3.0L clutch disc is what I tried (2.9 should work too). It had 4 springs and the hub was centered with the plane of the friction disc. I put the flywheel bolts into the holes in a flywheel, and set the clutch down on it, and it would spin/slide around freely. I don't know how much clearance there is, but there IS clearance. I already returned it, so I can't take pictures that would have been a good idea, huh? I'll take pics of the next two NA size discs.

FRporscheman

The mazda 626 clutch does not work. I tried a 1984 mazda 626 petrol and the shaft is 15/16" not 1". Still waiting for the Starion clutch.

Can somebody tell me if there is a 1" x 23 spline 225mm solid clutch disc out there? Like a ford or mitsu or whatever? It would be nice if I could use this trick on my 968 as well.

944-LT1

I should have seen your previous post about ordering a 1984 626 disc (not sure how I missed it). I had the specs on that already and should have told you it wouldnt work...sorry....sometimes I just fast read things.
Input Spline Quantity: 22
Input Shaft Diameter (in): 0.937 in.
Disc Diameter (in): 8.875 in.
Disc Diameter (mm): 225mm
Disc Material: Organic
Disc Style: Sprung hub
Pressure Plate Style: Diaphragm


However, the mitsu starion disc is a mopar disc and should work!

Input Spline Quantity: 23
Input Shaft Diameter (in): 1.000 in.
Disc Diameter (in): 8.875 in.
Disc Diameter (mm): 225mm
Disc Material: Organic/Carbon Composite
Disc Style: Sprung hub
Also same disc for these....
1985 - 5/87 Dodge Conquest TSi (2.6L turbo, intercooled)
1985 - 5/87 Plymouth Conquest TSi (2.6L turbo, intercooled)
1985 - 5/87 Mitsubishi Starion ESi (2.6L turbo, intercooled)

You say you want a SOLID disc?? Thats owie on the tranny! hahaha. As for hubs hitting the flywheel bolts....we have that problem sometimes with LS1 conversions. The answer is to visit ARP and get the flat thin head bolts and replace them with those. So, if something is close....ARP!

FRporscheman

LT1, thanks for the info! Good to know there is a source for shallow flywheel bolts.

I want a solid disc for the 968, because they came with solid discs. 968s had dual-mass (i.e. sprung) flywheels. Now I wouldn't be opposed to having a sprung clutch with a sprung flywheel, but as you can imagine, there is zero clearance between the flywheel and PP so solid hub clutch is a must.

jaje

I need to replace my clutch too but this will be for a 944 Spec car. After reading the posts here people have found some other clutches that fit the 944 NA (2.5 8v) models but have they been road tested and actually work besides just fitting and clearing the flywheel bolts?

944-LT1

Nope. Arash is heading up this experiment (im just along for the ride)....must wait for his findings on fitment and THEN im sure he'll tell us all if/how/what works.

FRporscheman

Well I'm doing the testing... I think many of us can share the props! I.e. don't throw this on ME!

Unfortunately (did I just say that?) my 944 clutch is OK. So I won't be testing an NA 944 with a ford clutch. But I am putting together an S2 clutch at the moment, so there is a test going on. The only problem is, I am unable to find a clutch that will fit an S2 setup. The S2 setup has no margin for error, the hub HAS to be offset or the springs hit the bolts, and I don't think ARP bolts will help.

FRporscheman

If someone has an NA 944 apart for a clutch job:

Sell/send me your good used/new Sachs clutch disc so I can use it in my S2. Then you can try the ford/mitsubishi clutch and be the hero!


Does anyone know if the rivets on a clutch can be undone, so I can take the shims from an old sachs clutch's hub and transfer them to the ford clutch? I know it's possible but is this something I, or a machine shop, can do for me within a couple days?

bjzorn

I curious to know if those other manufactuers can handle the clamping force? etc?

FRporscheman

I'm sure even the relined clutches from autozone are fine for an NA. For a 951 or S2, I would use at least a new clutch from an online supplier or from a dealer, not an autozone one, but the autozone one's probably good enough for a stock PP.

Here's a pic of the 1986 Mitsubishi Starion (without intercooler) clutch disc. This is from autozone, I think it is relined. It was $32 with $6 core charge. It fits the driveshaft, and works with an NA flywheel but not with an S2 16v flywheel. Well, it might fit the S2 flywheel with low-profile bolts... probably not.

A used S2 (same as NA) clutch for comparison


Starion

944-LT1

Sorry youre having such bad luck with the S2. But great that you saved all the NA guys a few bucks!! I have this sitting in my garage. I bought it from a clutch manufacturer called South Bend Clutch, http://www.southbendclutch.com/dynamax.html when I still had the 4 cylinder in the car. Cost me 800 bucks back then!!! Anyway, its a Sachs 8 puck carbon/kevlar disc. I bought it and 3 months later had a V8. Its about 100 miles old. Heres some pics...




PM me if interested.