I have a 97 LT1 car that I did a 6-speed swap in last summer. I bought a Ram HD clutch and had the flywheel resurfaced before the swap. The only non-factory GM parts that I used was a new master cylinder that I bought online and I did have to modify to hook up to my clutch pedal b/c the rod was too short. I put a small bushing and welded the rod on both ends to extend it maybe 1/2-3/4 of an inch. When I got everything together and put the required 400-500 mile break in on the clutch I noticed that it wasn't grabbing in between gears like it should (kinda delayed I guess). And then it started to slip pretty bad in the higher gears. So I pulled the tranny back and saw that my low oil switch on the side of the pan was leaking pretty bad and blowing right back in the bell housing. Naturally I thought that the oil on the clutch was causing it to slip, so I fixed the oil leak and ordered a brand new Ram HD clutch again and replaced it. Once again I put the 400-500 miles on the clutch before I gave it any high RPM revs, and the first couple of times it seemed okay, but then it stared to slip just like it did before and I can't figure out why?
The only thing that I can think up is the master cylinder rod is too long and its not allowing the clutch to fully engage if you can get what I saying. Like the rod is so long that its pushed the clutch pedal to its farthest limit and the rod can't come out of the cylinder any more. But I'm 100% out of ideas, and I really didn't want to have to pull the transmission out again if I didn't have to, so anyone have any idea to what I could look for or check?

Sorry for the novel, just thought I should include every detail.

 

No one ever had or heard of this problem I guess? Just my luck LOL!

Well, has anyone ever heard of a LT1 clutch using shims like an LS1 clutch?

 

The length of the MC rod has nothig to do with it. What kind of friction surface is on this disk? Organic?

 

Where is the engagement point relative to pedal travel? Let me know as this will shed some light on the situation. Thanks,

 

I'm not sure, this is the one I bought. I guess its organic?

 

It catches pretty close to the top (or the end of the pedals travel as I release).

 

Would it be a good idea to leave it parked? The car is 100% drivable, I just can't give it any more than %50-%75 throttle in any gear past 2nd or it slips like a bitch.

 

A high engagement point generally evidence a worn-out clutch. As the disc material wears the diaphragm finger height increases which leads the pedal to raise. The slippage result from two common causes: The frist is that the disc is simpy worn-out. The second is that the higher diahpragm fingers are being partially compressed by the bearing thusly leading to slippage. Of course both of these issues evidence wear. At any rate there is really no way to give you an estimated time until it completely gives up the ghost.

We offer seven different single-disc clutch kits that should easily suit your needs. We also offer steel and aluminum flywheel options too. Let me know what kind of power you are making and I will be happy to make a suggestion. Thanks!

 

What is weird is that this clutch was slipping when it had only 500 miles on it, with at the time zero WOT runs in any gear? Could it be just a worn or glazed over flywheel from the last clutch slipping?