I plan on dropping the trans and getting it rebuilt soon. While the trans is out I was going to put in an Autozone clutch kit, flywheel, new master and slave, and a poly trans mount. Should I go ahead and replace the rear main seal as cheap insurance? I don't know if it's leaking or not. Anything else I should do while everything's out? Thanks!

 

Absolutely.

 

I dunno... If the rear main isn't leaking, I wouldn't risk changing it and possibly having the new one leak... jmo... If you are talking about the seal on the trans absolutely...lol.... And I would steer away from the autozone clutch and just put an ls7 clutch in it, if it were mine as well....

 

Leave the rear main seal alone if its not leaking.. look into something better than the autozone ****.. ls7 clutch kit is nice and inexpensive

 

Sorry guys just noticed I forgot to mention car is a 1995 Trans Am I bought a few weeks ago. The car has 147,000 miles on it and the trans is locked in 5th gear. I can start it but can't move it. What is the best lower cost option as far as clutches go? Once I get thte car straightened out mechanically it will be my daily driver- taken to the track very rarely.

 

For a good clutch for a stock or bolt-on LT1 look at Ram clutches or Spec

 

I'd go with a RAM clutch or Zoom clutch. An Autozone clutch is complete crap, it will probably be shot within a couple months. I've seen the friction surface of the clutch disc shear completely off of the center hub of the clutch. They are chinese crap.

Not worth pulling the trans back out because of a cheap clutch, not to mention clutch failure can also damage the transmission in certain instances.

 

Thanks for the replies. I definately don't want to get a crappy clutch but $ is tight right now- I definately didn't plan on buying a car but it came along for such a good price I couldn't pass it up. I want to fix everything in 1 shot so I don't have to keep pulling the trans out/fixing things I've already done. I read on here where a lot of people get the Autozone kit just for the PP then buy a better clutch disk. I asked the ol lady for some car parts for Christmas but she won't contribute to my habit lol. I also read about using a Vette throw out bearing. Are they that much better than the TOB that comes in the kit?

 

The TOB that comes with the kits are just fine

 

look into a monster if they have them for lt1

 

Autozone = fail,

 

They dont.
Competition clutch has some nice LT1 stuff.

 

Vette TOB has a thicker more durable flange. Regardless, all are cheap Chinese crap just like the pressure plates in most all aftermarket kits now. But its all we have for LTx now.

 

When it comes to the LT1, most aftermarket clutches use the stock pressure plate, and it's just painted a different color. The only difference is a different disc is used. So if you're not trying to race and just want a clutch that will hold up and be streetable, buy the one from Autozone. I can guarantee you that it will work just the same as any other. Plus Autozone gives a lifetime warranty! I buy them there for the LT1s all the time and have never had a problem. Last one I bought was $220 and came with the TOB, and everything else. I would go ahead and swap the rear main seal (cheap insurance). Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of stuff that is cheap crap from both Autozone and O'Reillys that I wouldn't buy, but you really can't go wrong with the LT1 clutch.