Best clutch for under $200

[Lethal5Oh]

I just bought a 95 GT with 5 speed. The clutch is on its last leg so im looking for a replacement. I dont want a stocker but i dont want increased pedal pressure either. Right now im between a FRPP Cobra clutch or the King cobra clutch. Which do you guys think would be the best? Also while i have the trans down and out i plan on a fluid change. What type of fluid should i put in it. The car only has 53000 on it but i figure its way past its time for a fluid change. How about rear end fluid also. Thanks.

P.S. yes i plan on a new fly wheel

[lx5091]

I have the Ford Racing King Cobra clutch it's great, it comes with a heavy duty pressure plate and it made it MUCH EASIER to push in the clutch. I also put Redline D4 synthetic tranny fluid which is quite expensive but makes an incredible difference. Much smoother shift operation. While you're there you should probably replace the rear main seal ($40) and the pilot bearing ($10) and check the crank as best you can. Good luck

[Lethal5Oh]

Yeah i planned on the pilot bearing too. whats involved in changing the rear main? does the oil pan or anything else have to come down? the T-5 use regular auto trans fluid right? thanks

[Bob]

My vote goes to the King Cobra clutch also. Put one in my car a while back and it's been great on the street and at the track. Rear main is an easy one. One piece seal. Pop it out with a medium size screwdriver, but be careful not to scratch or ding the crank. Use a little permatex on the O.D. of the new seal and tap it in. Just make sure you get it started straight and tap all around, so ya don't bend it. Piece a cake..you'll see. The Ford fluid is fine but I use the Redline stuff. Seems to shift a little smoother, and it's been in there for a couple of years with no ill effects. Good Luck!

[Lethal5Oh]

Ok so that decision taken care of. But theres one more question i should ask. Hows the lifetime of the clutch? I do alot of around town and highway driving, unfortunatly quite a bit of stop and go. How would this clutch hold up to this? Should i just get a stock replacement until i get out of school and dont have to do so much driving (october '03)? thanks

[lx5091]

if you think about it.....

a 500hp capable clutch on a near stock car is going to do alot less slipping than a stock replacement....and it does. Your stock clutch does more slipping than you REALIZE...you will understand when you put in a performance clutch. in between gears the King cobra grabs immediately, absolutely no slippage! You will find that the performance of a stock car is greatly improved just with a performance clutch.




oh yeah, less slippage, less wear!

[BLACK85GT]

I have the King Cobra also. I love it because of the light pedal effort. Great for driving around town. It does start slipping a bit under heavy use at the track, but thats under extremes.

[B2r3y]

I just put in the King Cobra set up like 2 weeks ago and am very happy with the results of the clutch. during break in (500 miles) 1st gear is a lil rough around town but after about 500 or so its works like a charm. My stock clutch would allow me to get a 2nd gear scratch like maybe twice since i had the car but i hit 3rds all the time with this one. A lil advice tho dont drag out on it just learn to let it out fast and smooth. I would also suggest replacing the rear main while your down there to save having to drop your tranny all over again in the future.
Also an aftermarket clutch is always great to get but IMO i think it works horrible with the stock 2.73 gears in the rear so i would change those out if you can also. Im looking for the 3.73 step up soon.
my .02
Bryan

[Lethal5Oh]

thanks for all the replies. Its realy helped me on my decision. Im going to order the clutch and flywheel monday. Ive already got the pilot bearing and the rear main seal, along with some redline fluid and i figure while i got the car up i may awell do the diff fluid and the oil. Thansk again, ill let you know how it turns out.

[88workcar]

I will not use a cobra or the king, I killed one of each of those in one month, but my car has a killer 60ft. The hard clutch pedal, that is part of making up you mind as to what do you want to do with the car. Decisions are made which mostly favor comfort or luxery. Going fast is a decision. That is what the post "what is the limiting factor on a stock 5.0" turned out to be. The cobra should be fine, or what ever one has the light pedal, just don't expect it to cover all aspects of owning a powerhouse.

[Chris_H]

I have to agree with 88Workcar on this one. I had a King Cobra for about 6 months before it burned up. The pedal feel was a little light for me, and kind of hard to judge what the car was doing. Believe it or not, I put in a car Quest clutch, have had it in for about 2 yrs, about 60 passes down the track, and 60,000 miles later, and it just started to stink today after a bad burnout. Not bad for $120. BTW, this clutch also lasted through a few burnout contests, along with racing before and after in the same day. Just my $.02, but I would never buy another King Cobra.

Chris

[Kamaro Killer]

I talked with some people before replacing my clutch about 1 1/2 months ago, and realized the clutch made by RAM clutches, is the same as the King Cobra, but for 159, instead of 189. They are supposedly built by the same manufacturer, then labeled as King Cobra, and RAM, and sold at different prices. I don't know, they could have been BS'ing me, but I've had my clutch in for about 1 1/2 months, and I've been very happy with it. I just dyno'd my car and I had 324 pounds of torque, my clutch is holding up perfectly. Check out www.brothersperformance.com for the best price on this clutch.

[Lethal5Oh]

I just got my clutch in the mail today. It only cost 169 for the KC clutch from D&D performance. I do alot of around town and unfortunatly some traffic jam driving so for now a light pedal will be a good thing. Also this isnt going to have much power thrown at it because im short on money and have to buy many many tools so any money i do have is going to tools. I have a few things from the other stang like an Performance distributors ingnition system and this car has a k&n airfilter but thats it for performance stuff for a while. thanks

[Scrapla]

I never had a problem with my KK clutch, almost at 2k with it and still grips like new and takes a beating.