McLeod Racing Makes LS Swaps a Breeze
For 50 years, California’s McLeod tied many Chevy V8s with their clutches, including lots of LS swaps. Check out their SEMA360 panel.
It’s not always about the cool builds and displays at SEMA. There are also plenty of products to check out, especially those for your LS or LT swap. Without the healthy aftermarket for GM’s best V8, there wouldn’t be much to do with the LS.
One of those companies contributing to the cause is Anaheim, California’s McLeod Racing. The clutch company’s been helping plenty of builders connect their V8s and manuals together for 50 years. We recently attended an LS swap roundtable at SEMA360 sponsored by McLeod. Here’s what we learned.
“In 1971, Red Roberts founded the company here in Orange County, California,” said Billy Mieczkowski, sales and tech support rep for McLeod Racing. “He started it with his brother. He was actually an employee of another legendary clutch manufacturer, Bill Hays.”
According to Mieczkowski, Roberts would work on his own clutch ideas in his garage. Enough people loved what he did; thus, Roberts founded McLeod. The name was pulled from a phone book, one which stuck with him since high school; he knew a girl with the last name back then.
“Annually, I would say probably somewhere in the 100 to 250 annually, directly,” Mieczkowski said regarding calls and emails about help with LS swaps. McLeod unveiled a couple of new products to help make those swaps easier than before.
The first, featuring McLeod’s clover (inspired by the bridge games Roberts played in the early days), is part number 8617. The pilot bushings provide more input shaft bearing support in the crankshaft. Another product is a modular unit which allows replacement of the pilot bearing through a simple trip to the local auto parts store. Thus, no delays in the swap process, and no big dents in the wallet.
“[Roberts} was just one that loved clutches,” said Mieczkowski, who was the last employee the founder hired before selling the business to its second owner. “He worked for Bill Hays, and had spent his life’s dream, life’s work, to be in the auto industry.”
Photos: McLeod Racing
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