[DeTomaso] Centerforce Clutch

[Mad Dog Antenucci]

Jack
  You make some good points about using the 'correct' Centerforce is valid. The one Bobby Byers sells is a 11" with heavier springs. 
  md
   
  JDeRyke at aol.com wrote:
  To add to what others have said, the 'usual' Centerforce clutch you get for 
Panteras is a 10-1/2" diameter unit made for lower torque 302/5-liter Mustangs. 
The stock clutch is an 11" Long with no centrifugal weights (for bellhousing 
clearance). The 10-1/2" Centerforce works OK in street and light competition 
as was mentioned, but probably won't hold up to extended abuse. I've helped 
change two out of a Cleveland powered Pantera used for street and race, that 
mistakenly had a big-block type 3.20:1 ring & pinion installed in its ZF. Constant 
slippage to get started from red lights warped the pressure surface to 
uselessness pretty quickly. 
FWIW, a 10-1/2" Centerforce clutch weighs 16+ lbs-, almost identical to a 
stock Long unit. Centerforce does have bigger 11" units for Fords but you're on 
your own as to whether they will bolt up to a Pantera without modification, and 
as with the 10-1/2s, a new flywheel will be needed for the changed bolt 
pattern & bolt thread. And remember, stiffer clutches need MORE clutch d
isengagement travel than stock due to mechanical flexing of the linkages. Or they will 
drag & wear the expensive ZF synchronizers faster than normal. So a long-throw 
slave, at the minimum, is vital. I suspect this is also true of double-disc 
clutches too since one needs a minimum of 0.040" clearance between BOTH discs. 
My 2¢- J DeRyke
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