Best Clutch Setup for 03-04 Cobra

[SonicBlue03SD]

Hi Guys,

I won a Convertible 03 Sonic Blue Cobra with 200k miles in a raffle a few weeks ago. The Clutch cable and the Clutch itself seems a little worn out. I would like to replace the Clutch but not sure what is a little better then a stock Clutch. I am wanting to get your guys opionion on what you have installed in your Cobra's. I have looked at the Centerforce Dual Friction and Mcloud Clutches but wanted to get your guys feedback and issues.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[03' White Snake]

Congrats, and nice win!!! What mods are done to the car? HP levels definitely depends on the clutch recommendations.

Stock clutches are good for 450-500 hp max. Valeo makes the stock clutch. I believe they can still be found at Rockauto. Spec 2 or 3+ with LPO are good options, they tend to be on/off switches and take some getting used to. McLeod RST is a good street clutch and the RXT is a bit more heavy duty.

I personally run a RXT now and I won’t be running one again. I followed the break in exactly and it chatters so bad when going easy, feels like my car is going to fall apart, but it holds the power fantastic. If I rip on it, it’s a great clutch. Not worth the 2X price tag.

I liked the feeling of the Spec 3+ I ran for years before the RXT.

 

[01yellercobra]

You must be Pierre's cousin. Chris was just telling us about you winning the car.

As mentioned, it depends on your power goal. I'm on the other end of the spectrum with the RXT. Mine is smooth and doesn't chatter. Maybe the flywheel makes a difference.

 

[SonicBlue03SD]

You must be Pierre's cousin. Chris was just telling us about you winning the car.

As mentioned, it depends on your power goal. I'm on the other end of the spectrum with the RXT. Mine is smooth and doesn't chatter. Maybe the flywheel makes a difference.

Yes. I am cousins with Pierre and he let me know that he reached out to you. I am wanting something that will handle up to 500hp just incase I do want to upgrade a little. Its mainly stock from what I know. I was looking at the Mcloed or Centerforce dual friction but havent really heard too much about the Centerforce

 

[TerminatoRS]

I liked the feeling of the Spec 3+ I ran for years before the RXT.

Did you do the billet aluminum flywheel too? I've got the 3+ with LPO and billet flywheel and don't really care for it. Chatters quite a bit. I dread hit starts and will occasionally bark the tires once the chatter quits. After reading that you liked the 3+, I'm wondering if having the lower rotational mass in the flywheel is a major player in why mine kinda blows. lol

OP - FWIW, I ran a Centerforce dual friction in my '96 GT and it worked just fine. Granted it only had half the power you're looking for, but I beat the snot out of that car from 3k+ rpm launches on drag radials to back-to-back drag strip runs and never had a problem.

 

[P49Y-CY]

you should also check out ram clutches, i've had alot of luck with them in years past. each mfr should show what hp levels they are good for and i think they are all probably pretty good. right now in one of my cars (450hp) i am running a mcleod super street pro and it's been excellent for several years.

twin discs are great because of the super light pedal pressure, but they can be a challenge to dial in properly. you usually need to mess with the pivot ball, etc. i've had an rst in my other car for years and it's been great as well. (twin disc is kind of overkill for a 450hp car but like i said the easy pedal alone is worth the price of admission).

also it's worth mentioning that regardless of which clutch you choose, be sure to upgrade to a firewall adjuster/aftermarket quadrant at the same time. in my experience correct cable adjustment is probably the #1 factor for good driveability and clutch longevity.

best of luck with it! and enjoy your new-to-you terminator

 

[03' White Snake]

Did you do the billet aluminum flywheel too? I've got the 3+ with LPO and billet flywheel and don't really care for it. Chatters quite a bit. I dread hit starts and will occasionally bark the tires once the chatter quits. After reading that you liked the 3+, I'm wondering if having the lower rotational mass in the flywheel is a major player in why mine kinda blows. lol

OP - FWIW, I ran a Centerforce dual friction in my '96 GT and it worked just fine. Granted it only had half the power you're looking for, but I beat the snot out of that car from 3k+ rpm launches on drag radials to back-to-back drag strip runs and never had a problem.

I always ran the Spec's on rebuilt OEM aluminum flywheels. They were on/off engagement, but didn't chatter for me. On my RXT now, I went with the McLeod lightened steel flywheel. Was purchased as a kit. It chatters so bad when I am trying to baby it and take off easy. If I rip on it, it is fine.

 

[cj428mach]

If you don't mind spending money and want the best look at the centerforce dyad. I have one in my terminator and one in my godzilla powered streetrod and love them both. I'll be buying one to put in my godzilla powered falcon as well.

 

[vr4]

when the time comes for me ill be going with mantic. really wish i could find more people that have used them on these.

 

[01yellercobra]

Given your location you might want to reach out to Southland Clutch. One of the guys that used to work there had a screaming yellow 04. He might still be there. Your budget is the limit as far as what they can do for you.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

at that milage probably a good idea to do the throw out bearing and pilot bearing while its apart

 

[SonicBlue03SD]

I decided on going with a LUX stock clutch w/ Flywheel package due to High Mileage.

MMCP-52 Clutch Cable, Quadrant, and Firewall Adjuster Package​

I will probably change it once I think about getting the motor redone which might be next year.

 

[SonicBlue03SD]

Given your location you might want to reach out to Southland Clutch. One of the guys that used to work there had a screaming yellow 04. He might still be there. Your budget is the limit as far as what they can do for you.

Options weren't too great and the guy retired a few years ago with the yellow cobra.

 

[SonicBlue03SD]

Anyone has any recommendations for a clutch cable kit?

MMCP-52 Clutch Cable, Quadrant, and Firewall Adjuster Package - Out of Stock​

OEM Cobra Clutch Cable from Ford - Doesn't exist anymore

 

[BlckBox04]

you're wasting your money by not getting something like an RXT if you plan doing motor work later on

 

[SonicBlue03SD]

you're wasting your money by not getting something like an RXT if you plan doing motor work later on

I’m not sure if I am going to keep the car at the moment so I’m fixing it for the time being just to drive it. If I do the motor restore then I will do everything at one time

 

[cj428mach]

when the time comes for me ill be going with mantic. really wish i could find more people that have used them on these.

I just looked those up and they look like a nice piece, not sure the billet pressure plate is necessary and maybe just bling but it does have sprung hub discs. I'd think it would be really wide and have pivot ball/clutch fork issues since it has 2 sprung hubs. The DYAD gets away with 1 sprung hub because the second disc rides on pins on the first disc.

Anyways the Mantic for our cars is on sale right now $400 off, so be a guinea pig for the rest of us.

 

[vr4]

I just looked those up and they look like a nice piece, not sure the billet pressure plate is necessary and maybe just bling but it does have sprung hub discs. I'd think it would be really wide and have pivot ball/clutch fork issues since it has 2 sprung hubs. The DYAD gets away with 1 sprung hub because the second disc rides on pins on the first disc.

Anyways the Mantic for our cars is on sale right now $400 off, so be a guinea pig for the rest of us.

im nowhere near needing one and my factory clutch only has 19k on it so i got a while but at that discount i may have to shelf turd it.

i did come across a couple posts here and a video review on an s550. seemed positive but no updates a year or 2 into running it.

 

[SHIFTYBUSINESS]

I just looked those up and they look like a nice piece, not sure the billet pressure plate is necessary and maybe just bling but it does have sprung hub discs. I'd think it would be really wide and have pivot ball/clutch fork issues since it has 2 sprung hubs. The DYAD gets away with 1 sprung hub because the second disc rides on pins on the first disc.

Anyways the Mantic for our cars is on sale right now $400 off, so be a guinea pig for the rest of us.

I have a Mantic on a 13 gt with a T56 Magnum xl swap so it's a bit different. The car has a 2.3. vmp on a built short block so it's a somewhat close comparison.
I had to send it back because the engagement was all the way at the top, basically when you were getting off the peddle and it was terrible. Was extremely difficult to drive. I've driven manual cars almost exclusively my whole life, my Ranger has 230k still on the stock clutch. I'm not someone who can't drive a stick car, just for a bit of reference. So Mantic had the shop take measurements to see if the install was right after that they said send it back. Four weeks later I got it back and I'm in the break in period. Before the Mantic I had a McLeod RXT in the MT-82 and loved it. The Mantic peddle feel heavier than the RXT, RXT felt like stock. Both clutches I had the kit with the lightened steel flywheel, the Mantic kit came with a throw out bearing as well. I installed the RXT and a shop did the Mantic. Just wanted to say something about my experience. At this point I personally wouldn't use Mantic again. I'm still in the break in time now so I'll know more as time goes on. But for 2k twice the price of the McLeod it should be bad ass out of the box IMO. Sorry about the long winded rant.

 

[beefcake]

Let us know if we can help get you setup with a clutch ! Give us a call or shoot me a message and we can get you what you need