DeTomaso Mailing List: February 1997, Message #168
     



From: brockctella@juno.com (Brock C Tella)

Subject: Re: Hydraulic throw-out bearings

Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 16:24:45 PST



Mike, who the heck wants a clutch that feels like a Honda? That has got

to be the wimpiest feeling. Part of the whole package is a heavy clutch.

Have you thought about an automatic?

On Wed, 26 Feb 1997 09:35:30 -0500 (EST) MikeLDrew@aol.com writes:

>All,

>

>Virtually everyone in PCNC who's tried a hydraulic throw-out bearing

>has

>absolutely loved them until they blew up, which often was only a

>matter of

>weeks.

>

>Jack DeRyke took a generic Tilton unit and screwed around with it

>forever,

>milling and machining etc. etc. to adapt it to a Pantera, and I think

>he's

>still running it on his car.  Most other people went through two or

>three of

>them and then threw up their hands and went back to the stock design.

>

>However, it's important to add that these people were trying

>first-generation

>units from Pantera Performance Center in Colorado, which had design

>bugs.

> PPC was continually updating the design, and would replace defective

>units

>with the 'new, improved' model gratis (although you still had to R&R

>your

>gearbox to get the thing in and out).  Roger Sharp blew out both a

>first and

>second generation unit with normal street driving, then got fed up and

>never

>installed their third-generation unit they gave him.

>

>I went ahead and gambled, however, since I have profound trust in

>Dennis

>Quella.  To date, I've driven my car a grand total of fifty feet with

>this

>third-generation unit installed, so I can't exactly give a complete

>endorsement.

>

>When it was first installed, it worked great.  The car sat for several

>weeks

>or perhaps a few months, then when I tried it out, the pedal went

>right to

>the floor, only felt resistance in the last inch or so of pedal

>travel.  I

>thought perhaps it needed to be bled or something, for that's what it

>felt

>like.

>

>I finally got the ignition hooked up and started and ran the engine a

>few

>times (just for jollies more than anything else).  Then, lo and

>behold, the

>clutch came back, seems to be working like a champ now; I suspect it

>had

>simply stuck because it was so new, but the vibes of the engine freed

>it up.

> LOTS of throwout available, seemingly more than with the stock setup;

>hopefully won't be dragging the clutch and eating up synchros any

>more.

>

>The pedal feels GREAT!  About the same effort as a Honda Accord, feels

>like I

>could reach down and push it in with my hand (well, I tried it, and

>I'm not

>strong enough, but it's about half as stiff as my old, stock clutch,

>and a

>third as stiff as some other Pantera clutches I've felt).  Engagement

>at

>parking-lot speeds is extremely progressive, lots of good feedback.

> Presuming it doesn't blow up, I think I'm gonna love it!

>

>Fingers crossed....

>

>Mike Drew

>