800cc hill climbing..4wd is for wussys. Clutch? What clutch?

Posts: 415

Was out at Superstition Mt. Ca. again this week. The Rhino guys had their new long travel set ups and were itching to try them out. I tagged along in my 800.

We stayed away from the sand this time and went into the mud hills and canyons. I was keeping up just fine through the rough stuff. I had aired it down to about 5psi in the ITP ATR Holeshots and was having little trouble going up and over anything I pleased.

In this one narrow canyon there was a hard right uphill that looked real loose and knarly. Two of the Rhinos worked their way up to the top and yelled down that I'd better go the long way around. I think not!! What's the worst that could happen? I could high side or spin in? Heck, we could just drag it back down and I would go "the long way 'round" with my tail tucked.
So I gave it a shot.

The immediate hard right starts steeply uphill. You can't get a run at it. You just have to go. So I pinned it and made the turn.

Man that was some wild uphill climb. About 6 ft from the crest I knew I "owned" that hill. The engine was pulling 6000 rpms and the car was....starting to slow?? I thought I must be making the mother of all rooster tails. But as I came to a stop, front wheels just inches from the crest, I realized the wheels were not driving. I was just sitting there in first gear, engine screaming, going nowhere! My clutch just gave it up. Man, I had that hill.

I had to be towed over the top by a Rhino and dragged about 6 miles back to camp, my weekend over.

So, any ideas on a performance clutch upgrade?
later...mick

Here's some pics:

Posts: 6275

Oh man, so close.... Those are some pretty cool action scots you posted. So you had to slum it in that other rail Very Happy

. How was that to ride in?

Posts: 1257

Mick,

The kid from Crower Cams posted that he had swapped out a CNC ceramic clutch. I asked about part numbers, but that when he stopped responding Confused

let us know what you come up with.

Chris

Posts: 415 · Superstition 1-04-08 005.jpg: 4 Time(s) Viewed, 283 KB Me getting towed back

Posts: 415

Posts: 154

I searched all over for a high performance clutch for my 1100 when I had it apart last year - I figured it would be a good idea to upgrade it before the turbo install. Couldn't find a thing and the three clutch specialty shops I took it to just gave me a blank stare and a shake of the head.
So far it has worked OK with the turbo - no clutch stink after hard runs - but it really would be nice to have a HP option. Please post if anyone has a solution.

Posts: 335

AWESOME picture Mick, Sorry I cant help "yet".
I'm workin on it ..

Later W.C.

Posts: 299

So far everything I have found to replace on my 800cc is off the 1987 Chevy Sprint. It can't hurt to try. And there are alot of race clutches for this year. Try the local autozone first for the stock one. It looks like the same splines.It should be the same for the 1100cc also.
http://www.drivewire.com/chevyparts/catalog/chevysprintclutchkit.html

http://www.clutchcityonline.com/ACT/chevrolet_sprint.htm

That is what I will try first

Joe

Posts: 2534

That's a heck of a story. I've had a few of those as well, except mine was only a chain coming off. I bet those ruts on the hill were actually pretty deep. BTW, I like the pictures.

Posts: 335