Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with my car lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I decided to upgrade my clutch, and after doing some digging, I went with a South Bend clutch. Heard a lot of chatter about them, both good and bad, so I figured, why not give it a shot?
First thing I did was to reach out to a few different places that sell these things. Ended up going with Thoroughbred Diesel, mostly ’cause they had what I needed for my Ford Powerstroke. It wasn’t exactly cheap, but hey, you gotta pay to play, right?
When the clutch arrived, I got my friend who is a mechanic to help me install it. He spent a good chunk of time getting everything set up just right. I could tell this wasn’t your average clutch by the way it felt – way smoother engagement, and it’s closer to the end of the pedal. Super easy to drive, which is a huge plus.
Now, I’ve heard that some folks had issues with these clutches, like them failing or whatever. But, from what I gather, a lot of that comes down to how you drive. My mechanic buddy told me to keep the RPM up by downshifting, and that’s solid advice. Also, I noticed some people talking about towing in overdrive. Apparently, that’s a big no-no, and now I know better.
Another thing I did was looking at some forums and comparing notes with other people’s experiences. It is interesting to see the different opinions. For example, there was a discussion about choosing between Valair and South Bend. It seems like it really boils down to what you need and your budget.
- First step: Find a good dealer.
- Second step: Get it installed by someone who knows their stuff.
- Third step: Drive it right. No crazy stuff, especially when breaking it in.
So far, I’m pretty happy with the South Bend clutch. It handles the extra power I’ve thrown at my engine, and it’s holding up well. I’ve put a few thousand miles on it, and it still feels like new. Of course, I’m not going to be doing any burnouts or holding it at the friction point, ’cause I’m not trying to wreck it.
I’ve also done a few other upgrades, like adding an Adrenaline tuner and making some cosmetic changes. It’s all part of the fun, right? But the clutch is definitely one of the bigger things I’ve done, and it’s made a noticeable difference in how the truck drives.
My two cents?
If you’re thinking about a South Bend clutch, do your homework. It worked out for me, but your mileage may vary. Just make sure you get the right one for your engine’s torque and all that jazz. And don’t be a dummy when you’re driving it. Treat it right, and it’ll treat you right.
