Stage 3 Pressure Plate & Stock Cable?

[risk]

Anyone using a kennedy stage 3 (2600lb) pressure plate with the stock clutch cable setup? Will the clutch cable tube and spot welds hold up okay?

[Marc]

Considering that the clutch tube welds sometimes break with a stock cover, I don't think there'd be high hopes for them lasting forever with a Stage 3...although there's probably some who've managed to get away with it.
Going to the late, long release lever at the cross-shaft will make life easier on the welds and your leg.
It'll also increase the pedal travel needed, but that's rarely an issue.

[risk]

Funny you mention the longer release lever.. I'm running a kennedy stage 2 pp & diamondback disc.. the extra pressure it takes to engage it is really annoying in stop and go traffic. So, I read about the longer clutch arm.. hmm.. I cut two levers apart and made a long one (added 1 inch), but I could not get enough travel to fully engage the clutch. I ended up taking it back off, and removed about 1/2" inch... works great and it feels a lot closer to the stock setup.

I started with a Kennedy stage 2 and copperhead disc. When I switched to E85 it began to slip in 3rd & 4th, so I went to a diamondback disc (looks like a grinding wheel). This stopped the slip, but....

Then I added an intercooler, and it has started slipping in 3rd & 4th again. Thinking the disc had glazed over, I pulled the disc and bead blasted it. Still slips at the top of 3rd.. So it's time to bump up the pressure plate to a stage 3.

[ps2375]

Are you sure the steps on the FW are machined correctly? That or you must really be making a whole bunch of TQ.

[Chip Birks]

I have a stage 3 and diamond back and long arm. Worked good till last summer. Broke all three connection points. Never hurt my cable though. I do think I'm starting to push the limits of the stage 3. I need to start monitoring clutch slip one of these days. Big boost and a 2000lb car don't help. Super happy with the combo so far though. Smooth engagement, comfortable pedal, and good hold 95% of the time.

[risk]

Flywheel is good.. although I have never measured the clutch breakaway torque. I have a 2276 running E85, intercooled and turbo'd. It's just overpowering my clutch setup.

So you broke the spot welds loose in the tunnel, chip? I wonder if some extra welds via the shift coupler access hole would be enough to hold up..

[Chip Birks]

Flywheel is good.. although I have never measured the clutch breakaway torque. I have a 2276 running E85, intercooled and turbo'd. It's just overpowering my clutch setup.

So you broke the spot welds loose in the tunnel, chip? I wonder if some extra welds via the shift coupler access hole would be enough to hold up..

The tube was floating when all was said and done
Nice and sturdy now though.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I would start to worry about the area the cross shaft runs through too. Worry about the throwout bearing fingers also. You are putting a lot of loading on stock, lighter weight things with that strong of a clutch cover.

[risk]

Decided to ditch the idea of a stage 3 and sent my flywheel off to Kennedy today for their dual disc clutch conversion.

[Piledriver]

Decided to ditch the idea of a stage 3 and sent my flywheel off to Kennedy today for their dual disc clutch conversion.

Good Plan.