HCF - John
Gearbox / Brake Systems
While researching components for my SLC build I found clutch options for the Graziano transaxle to be too expensive, too limited and too bi-polar. Because the transmission was OEM fitment for the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo, existing options were priced with those marques in mind and seemed to be a poor fit for the low rpm/high torque motor I planned to use for the car.
Clutch options largely fell into two camps - OEM-style and Racing. The OEM R8 clutch is a fine choice for a street-driven, lower horsepower build, but it was designed for a vehicle that produced only roughly 400ft lbs and made that torque higher in the rpm range - not to mention the flywheel and clutch are typically not balanced together. The racing clutches, like the one I ultimately put in my car, had fantastic torque-holding capacity but were thousands of dollars and terrible to drive on the street. I thought there should be a better option, so I created one!
I approached the manufacturer who manages HCF's (HCF Parts) kevlar composite disc rebuilding program for Ferraris and asked if they could design a kit for me. They came back to me with two options - a Kevlar composite disc option and a Ceramic disc option. I'll describe each below:
Kevlar fiber composite disc
Intended for street (and moderate track) driven vehicles where a smooth engagement is desirable. The disc material exhibits a wear rate of roughly 1/5th that of asbestos materials and 1/2 to 1/3 that of sintered bronze materials. It is designed to be used either dry or wet (as an unfortunate 512TR owner found first-hand when his gearbox developed a leak a year after install - see 8 year case study at HCF Parts) and is non-abrasive to opposing flywheel surfaces. This clutch package is appropriate for street driven vehicles making up to 750 ftlbs. For more abuse or more torque-holding ability, the ceramic disc option below is more appropriate.
Ceramic disc
Intended for primarily track-driven vehicles where the ability to withstand more abuse is needed. A tradeoff with the ceramic discs is a more aggressive engagement and less ability to slip the clutch on take-off. This clutch package is appropriate for track driven or extreme street vehicles making up to 1100 ftlbs.
Each clutch package will include a balanced assembly consisting of a steel flywheel, two clutch discs in your choice of material (one sprung, one rigid) and a heavy-duty pressure plate.
To hit a minimum order, I need to find 10 interested parties. Pricing at that level is $2,900 assuming a 6 or 8 bolt LS/LT Chevy motor flywheel design. Others can be supported for a small charge for setup - please email me at [email protected] if that's the case.
I think these kits fill an existing gap for friendly-engagement but higher torque street applications and cost-effective higher torque track applications. If you're interested, please respond here or reach out to me at [email protected].
Thank you,
John
Clutch options largely fell into two camps - OEM-style and Racing. The OEM R8 clutch is a fine choice for a street-driven, lower horsepower build, but it was designed for a vehicle that produced only roughly 400ft lbs and made that torque higher in the rpm range - not to mention the flywheel and clutch are typically not balanced together. The racing clutches, like the one I ultimately put in my car, had fantastic torque-holding capacity but were thousands of dollars and terrible to drive on the street. I thought there should be a better option, so I created one!
I approached the manufacturer who manages HCF's (HCF Parts) kevlar composite disc rebuilding program for Ferraris and asked if they could design a kit for me. They came back to me with two options - a Kevlar composite disc option and a Ceramic disc option. I'll describe each below:
Kevlar fiber composite disc
Intended for street (and moderate track) driven vehicles where a smooth engagement is desirable. The disc material exhibits a wear rate of roughly 1/5th that of asbestos materials and 1/2 to 1/3 that of sintered bronze materials. It is designed to be used either dry or wet (as an unfortunate 512TR owner found first-hand when his gearbox developed a leak a year after install - see 8 year case study at HCF Parts) and is non-abrasive to opposing flywheel surfaces. This clutch package is appropriate for street driven vehicles making up to 750 ftlbs. For more abuse or more torque-holding ability, the ceramic disc option below is more appropriate.
Ceramic disc
Intended for primarily track-driven vehicles where the ability to withstand more abuse is needed. A tradeoff with the ceramic discs is a more aggressive engagement and less ability to slip the clutch on take-off. This clutch package is appropriate for track driven or extreme street vehicles making up to 1100 ftlbs.
Each clutch package will include a balanced assembly consisting of a steel flywheel, two clutch discs in your choice of material (one sprung, one rigid) and a heavy-duty pressure plate.
To hit a minimum order, I need to find 10 interested parties. Pricing at that level is $2,900 assuming a 6 or 8 bolt LS/LT Chevy motor flywheel design. Others can be supported for a small charge for setup - please email me at [email protected] if that's the case.
I think these kits fill an existing gap for friendly-engagement but higher torque street applications and cost-effective higher torque track applications. If you're interested, please respond here or reach out to me at [email protected].
Thank you,
John