The guys at Crank It Up Diesel helped install my SBC DD SMF on saturday. First impressions, it drives really nice, not real jumpy on 1st through 3rd gear launches. Peddle effort is way less than i thought it was going to be, almost the same as stock, just grabs lower in the travel. Cranked the juice up to lvl 5, no slip! Noises are louder than i thought they were going to be. Definatly gonna get some looks idling in neutral :ro) . I'm probably going to try some things to see if i can quiet it down a little, definatly gonna add the quart of lucas or whatever it is when i change the fluid. The old DMF is what was causing my engine miss, idles smooth now, Evan said my DMF had a little more play than what hes seen, i was surprised that any was exceptable. Install time for Evan was damn fast, he's getting quick at these, actual work time was about three hours or so, had a little trouble getting the input shaft into the pilot bearing but that was it.

Has anyone tried a fluidampr? I know there was some criticism about them on another thread but it seemed it help alot on the dodge guys. I'd like to get the rattle a little bit quieter. I was thinking about raising the idle speed a 100 or 200 RPM or so (through like EFI Live or a tech II) because the rattle seems to drop off alot after coming off idle with the throttle. Anyone tried that?

The guys at Crank It Up Diesel helped install my SBC DD SMF on saturday. First impressions, it drives really nice, not real jumpy on 1st through 3rd gear launches. Peddle effort is way less than i thought it was going to be, almost the same as stock, just grabs lower in the travel. Cranked the juice up to lvl 5, no slip! Noises are louder than i thought they were going to be. Definatly gonna get some looks idling in neutral :ro) . I'm probably going to try some things to see if i can quiet it down a little, definatly gonna add the quart of lucas or whatever it is when i change the fluid. The old DMF is what was causing my engine miss, idles smooth now, Evan said my DMF had a little more play than what hes seen, i was surprised that any was exceptable. Install time for Evan was damn fast, he's getting quick at these, actual work time was about three hours or so, had a little trouble getting the input shaft into the pilot bearing but that was it.

Has anyone tried a fluidampr? I know there was some criticism about them on another thread but it seemed it help alot on the dodge guys. I'd like to get the rattle a little bit quieter. I was thinking about raising the idle speed a 100 or 200 RPM or so (through like EFI Live or a tech II) because the rattle seems to drop off alot after coming off idle with the throttle. Anyone tried that?

It's good to hear that you had such a good experience with Evan, he's a great guy and an even better installer!! He really rocks no doubt, thanks for the honest feedback.

Congrats on the install,

Dang i thought i did good @ 5 hours!!!!!!!!!!

NOw you need more power!!!!

Later
Caleb

If you have a high idle kit and you turn it on the 1200RPM setting its silent unless your truck is straight piped like mine and then the exhaust is pretty loud.

Thanks guys, the install would have only taken about 2.5 hours or so if the alignment tool that they send would fit tight in the disks and the pilot baring.. it wouldn't fit in the splines tight enough to line both disks up and then center them....after I removed the tranny and did a little "TWEEKING" she went home smooth.... i didn't think to bring one of my tools with me..i will next time.....

Other than that i was pleased with the install and driveablity

THe oil additive will help the rattle but I think it is here to stay when there are no springs in a clutch set-up....

Thanks for the feedback,
Evan

I helped JJGMC do his install this weekend. Actually the "JJ twins" (JJGMC and Steel) did most of the work prior to my arrival and I just helped with the major R&R of the trans, clutch, and flywheel.


The flywheel had quite a press fit to it. I sure hope it never has to come out. JJ started the bolts and drew it down quite snug. My first step of TQ sequence was 80 lb/ft and it kept on drawing on further and further. The components looked to be pretty well made.

My major criticism is the POS pilot tool that is way undersized. We had the pilot tip at .010" under the shaft and the OD of the spline .015" under. The splines are also too narrow. It's tough to get things lined up with a sloppy tool even with a lift. Steel did the install of the pressure plate assy and I did not see how he went about using the tool. The first time we could not get the shaft to fall in all the way so we pulled it back out and loosened/re-loctited the bolts. I then rotated the tool to be sure that the splines were aligned, and had him hold up on the tool before starting down on the pressure plate. Dropped right in this time.



Also, I did not see any notes, but it would have been helpful to note thet the discs either DO or DO NOT need to be clocked together on the splines. As I understand, it does not matter, but this would be helpful to know as this is a legitimate question.


I'd like to see one of Mac's clutches for comaprison. In talking to him, I like what he has to say...

Thanks guys, the install would have only taken about 2.5 hours or so if the alignment tool that they send would fit tight in the disks and the pilot baring.. it wouldn't fit in the splines tight enough to line both disks up and then center them....after I removed the tranny and did a little "TWEEKING" she went home smooth.... i didn't think to bring one of my tools with me..i will next time.....

Other than that i was pleased with the install and driveablity

THe oil additive will help the rattle but I think it is here to stay when there are no springs in a clutch set-up....

Thanks for the feedback,
Evan

Yep, that tool SUX. I can only think of one other use for it and it should only be used on whoever spec'd it AFTER the loop is removed... :eek:

Yep, that tool SUX. I can only think of one other use for it and it should only be used on whoever spec'd it AFTER the loop is removed... :eek:

):h ):h That's pretty funny right there!!

THe oil additive will help the rattle but I think it is here to stay when there are no springs in a clutch set-up....

Evan

:exactly:

The alignment tool is junk. When it is in the disks and pilot bearing you can move the disks up and down at least an eighth of an inch.-:t If anyone is planning on installing the SBC clutch make sure you spin the tool to line up the splines and move it up and down to find the center. This will save you the pain of pulling it back apart.

Where's deadeye, maybe him and his company can headup r&d on a new allignment tool.:confuzeld;)

Where's deadeye, maybe him and his company can headup r&d on a new allignment tool.:confuzeld;)

I will check the one I got and talk to Peter about this problem. Not certain why I have not had the same problem but I don't disagree with your posts. In fact, I appreciate hearing about things that need to be fixed.

BTW, what p/n is on the alignment tools any of you received?

??? "BMW...." or somthin that might explain it right there ..not shure on that Number..I made shure and Trashed that stupid thing so i wouldn't grab it by mistake...:cussing:

Kennedy is right, The Only usefull spot for it, Is right below the tail of whoever thought it would work... :knight:

I putting one of my good ones in the tool box of both of my trucks so i would be prepared from now on...

Deadeye: We didn't have your 70 pictures and X# of pages of instructions...:deal:... that must have been our trouble.....:thumb:

First off I would like to thank John Kennedy and steel for the install of SBC DD SMF. First impressions of this clutch is that it is very streetable little graby in starting out but it is not fully broken in yet and I also have the Feramic disks so. It is not as noisey as I thought it would be. I agree with 05DMAX that if we up the idle abit this would help out tons. Pedal effort is pretty much the same as stock maybe 5 to 10 percent harder but not noticable at all. Just wait to get a few more miles on it before I turn the big VA up :ro) :ro) stay tuned .................

do as "steel" says. I have done my share of clutches and your eye may not be the fastest or simplest but you allways have it with you. The old GM c65 trucks with a 427 built in the early seventies had dual disc with internal adjustments for freeplay on the disc , yuk. glad I don't work on them any more. aftermarket came with floating plate. much nicer. keep us posted on how it works for you. May need a new dual disc/single disc for gooseneck hauling ourselves.

I hear that the originator of the Dmax 6 speed clutches has a decent alignment tool. Must not have been on hand when this kit was designed...

I hear that the originator of the Dmax 6 speed clutches has a decent alignment tool. Must not have been on hand when this kit was designed...

:funnypost::iamwithst::driver::driver::driver::dri ver:

Are you saying mac kits come with a better tool or were can you get these better tools? Evan.....you a source for em?

Yeah a new tool with the kit would be a definate plus.

Update after putting about 200 miles on it. Still love it, im starting to get used to the noises. I have found when driving in heavy traffic it will get more grabby, something to do with clutch temperature im guessing. Also, you pretty much cant go through a drive through at a fast food place, its too loud they cant hear me at the order speaker, lol. Maybe the quart of lucas will help enough so they can hear me. Anyone else notice this?

Yeah no more drive throughsfor me either :eek: i've lost 50 lbs since the install of my clutch LOL!!!!

ANd no the lucas dosent help enough i have two quarts of the gear oil in mine and still to noisy!!!!
Later,
Caleb

Also, you pretty much cant go through a drive through at a fast food place, its too loud they cant hear me at the order speaker, lol.

You have to remember to kill it....then you can communicate.):h

??? "BMW...." or somthin that might explain it right there ..not shure on that Number..I made shure and Trashed that stupid thing so i wouldn't grab it by mistake...:cussing:

Kennedy is right, The Only usefull spot for it, Is right below the tail of whoever thought it would work... :knight:

I putting one of my good ones in the tool box of both of my trucks so i would be prepared from now on...

Deadeye: We didn't have your 70 pictures and X# of pages of instructions...:deal:... that must have been our trouble.....:thumb:

It was a "BMW 25" and it is the wrong one. The correct one is a 447 (p/n) and I don't know who makes it but that is the same one Craig used to ship and also what SBC was also shipping until recently (?) I will talk to Peter when he gets back from vacation. Don't know why his shipper was packing those as you and Kennedy are correct, it does not fit either the hubs or the pilot bearing.

As for the instructions, they are written for newbies who have no experience doing installs like you all . . . . ;)

You have to remember to kill it....then you can communicate.):h

I wont kill mine, usually the egts are high while driving and you shouldent just pull in and shut er down, while crusing if your egts are 700 and you stop and the gauge falls to 300 and you shut it off the housing and center section can still be 500 plus, @ 500 degrees the oil that is now not moving throught the turbo is almost instantly turning to sludge, and thats just a:badidea: !!!!

At least on a lly anyhow as are turbos i dont beleive have coolant in them!

Later,
Caleb

I wont kill mine, usually the egts are high while driving and you shouldent just pull in and shut er down, while crusing if your egts are 700 and you stop and the gauge falls to 300 and you shut it off the housing and center section can still be 500 plus, @ 500 degrees the oil that is now not moving throught the turbo is almost instantly turning to sludge, and thats just a:badidea: !!!!

At least on a lly anyhow as are turbos i dont beleive have coolant in them!

Later,
Caleb

My egt are not that high, when cruising around town(where the drive-thrus are normally located). But I agree, I would not shut it down after make a 'hot' run. Obviously I am doing OK....at 100K miles):h