Pulling/Racing a ZF6

[JD3020]

For you manual guys, what has your experience been pulling and racing? What parts have you broken? What clutches are you running? And what internal or hydraulic mods have you made?

I have a 99 model ZF6 manual t-case, and a Southbend dual disc of some kind. Got it all out of a buddies truck that was totaled, and he swapped in the trans/new clutch less than 10k miles ago. He isn't 100% sure what model clutch it is, but he thinks its rated for over 750hp. Hoping he can find all the paperwork from Southbend.

Goal for the truck is a 5-600hp weekend warrior. I'd like to pull and race it extremely often, while still being able to DD it and tow if needed. So i'd like to avoid a super aggressive clutch with a ton of pedal pressure and impossible to slip.

 

[IHPowerstroke7.3]

Look at most racing now and you'll see an automatic transmission in use. Sled pulling is mixed with both autos and manuals.

ZF6? Good transmission for a stock to mild peformance setup. It will never be faster than an automatic setup. Not my truck but good friend of mine had an 03 6.0 with the zf6. Put not sure which model south bend clutch in it but I think on the 4th try we got a clutch that worked right after changing slaves and masters and fly wheels no reason. After all the screwing around he tried pulling with it and it would always slip. All he had was an edge evolution on it. They are a tough transmission and you can beat on them but trying to find a clutch to handle more then stock power levels with stock characteristics might be a challenge. Personally I'd stick with an auto.

 

[Meniacal_Mark]

What was his clutch rated for?

 

[JD3020]

I'd love an auto, and ultimately i want a BTS 4R with a PCS controlling it. But i have a full ZF set-up here ready to go, can't afford to sell it and take another $2-3k to get a an auto.

 

[ghohouston]

people pay waaaayyyyy too much money for those zf swap turds, so use that to your advantage. sell it, and buy a real transmission.

 

[TARM]

Talk to HRT he has a great deal of experience and I seem to recall he has used a manual or two.

 

[mind if I smoke]

Call Kenny out at kenny's pulling parts. Im running his sintered iron dual disk. I go to the strip once every month or two and pull on very rare occasions. Never had a problem and I drive it every day.

 

[bruce]

Surely theres got to be some ole country boy that thinks a handshaker will make his pecker bigger who will trade you

 

[hwrdbd]

To put it bluntly, your expectations for a clutch aren't very realistic. If you want to hold 600hp, pull and race frequently, then you're looking at a dual disc and its going to be somewhat grabby. Not going to be stock feeling at all, both in pedal pressure or engagement. Plus being able to tow and daily drive?
You can find one that balances all the your desires to a degree, but you have to look at what is most important to you, all out performance at the track, or drivability.
That being said, plenty of options are out there that hold 600+hp, they just take some getting used to on the street.

 

[powerstrokenstang]

I dunno about racing with it but a sintered iron dual disc is not grabby and will hold like crazy. Im running a 4200 south bend and the hydro setup i made has stock pedal pressure. Pm me if you want more details on it. I will say though a zf6 shifts alot better that a zf5 with a dual disc. Like said though for racing auto ftw.

 

[JD3020]

Just gonna throw this pic up for now and head to bed, maybe somebody can tell what clutch/material it is. All i know is its a Southbend dual disc. Really hoping my buddy can find his paperwork for it.

 

[02strokin]

It's a street dual disk cuz it has springs I can tell you that....

 

[backwoodsboy]

Using my highly calibrated laser mass eyecrometer, I'd say that's a ceramic clutch.

Probably something similar to this:
http://www.blackclouddiesel.com/clu...-street-dual-disc-clutch-6sp-ford-7-3l-99-03/

 

[Tncoalroller88]

Zf6 in a great trans. Give theyre not faster than the auto on the strip. In stock form they are much stouter than a pile of **** automatic 4r... My truck has been dynoed numerous times at over 500 plus horsepower and I have just a single disk ceramic clutch. Raced it many times in quarter mile and eighth mile tracks for 3 years now and not a slip. Anyone bashing the zf6 is just someone whos never drive a 6 speed aint got a clue what they are cabable of and prob cant even drive a manual trans period. Zf6 will always get my vote over the auto day after day. Cause not everybody dealing with these trucks has thousands of dollars to spend on a built auto and if they do they dont race them all the time so its mostly just a fad cause everybody else has one. I dare to be different and keep my zf6. Maybe a bit slower at the strip. But on the rd its another ball game.

 

[JD3020]

Overall a manual sucks compared to a built auto, far from a "fad".


But talking with my buddy, he's thinking it is a street clutch. Looks like that won't work for what i want. :doh:

 

[backwoodsboy]

Zf6 in a great trans. Give theyre not faster than the auto on the strip. In stock form they are much stouter than a pile of **** automatic 4r... My truck has been dynoed numerous times at over 500 plus horsepower and I have just a single disk ceramic clutch. Raced it many times in quarter mile and eighth mile tracks for 3 years now and not a slip. Anyone bashing the zf6 is just someone whos never drive a 6 speed aint got a clue what they are cabable of and prob cant even drive a manual trans period. Zf6 will always get my vote over the auto day after day. Cause not everybody dealing with these trucks has thousands of dollars to spend on a built auto and if they do they dont race them all the time so its mostly just a fad cause everybody else has one. I dare to be different and keep my zf6. Maybe a bit slower at the strip. But on the rd its another ball game.

A synchronized constant mesh manual transmission will never outperform a properly built automatic when it comes to high hp and towing heavy. That is a fact.

 

[psduser1]

Zf6 in a great trans. Give theyre not faster than e auto on the strip. In stock form they are much stouter than a pile of **** automatic 4r... My truck has been dynoed numerous times at over 500 plus horsepower and I have just a single disk ceramic clutch. Raced it many times in quarter mile and eighth mile tracks for 3 years now and not a slip. Anyone bashing the zf6 is just someone whos never drive a 6 speed aint got a clue what they are cabable of and prob cant even drive a manual trans period. Zf6 will always get my vote over the auto day after day. Cause not everybody dealing with these trucks has thousands of dollars to spend on a built auto and if they do they dont race them all the time so its mostly just a fad cause everybody else has one. I dare to be different and keep my zf6. Maybe a bit slower at the strip. But on the rd its another ball game.

This is about the dumbest post I've seen you make...
I've used manuals for 30 yrs, they still suck next to a well built auto.
In this application, they work for the required time, which is the question at hand, not "in stock form".

 

[lincolnlocker]

Zf6 in a great trans. Give theyre not faster than the auto on the strip. In stock form they are much stouter than a pile of **** automatic 4r... My truck has been dynoed numerous times at over 500 plus horsepower and I have just a single disk ceramic clutch. Raced it many times in quarter mile and eighth mile tracks for 3 years now and not a slip. Anyone bashing the zf6 is just someone whos never drive a 6 speed aint got a clue what they are cabable of and prob cant even drive a manual trans period. Zf6 will always get my vote over the auto day after day. Cause not everybody dealing with these trucks has thousands of dollars to spend on a built auto and if they do they dont race them all the time so its mostly just a fad cause everybody else has one. I dare to be different and keep my zf6. Maybe a bit slower at the strip. But on the rd its another ball game.

Charles in 3..2..1...

This is about the dumbest post I've seen you make...
I've used manuals for 30 yrs, they still suck next to a well built auto.
In this application, they work for the required time, which is the question at hand, not "in stock form".

whs^^^

live life full throttle

 

[Tncoalroller88]

Like I said everyone is comparing to a " well built auto" im saying stock for stock money for money manual is more reliable.

 

[m j]

A synchronized constant mesh manual transmission will never outperform a properly built automatic when it comes to high hp and towing heavy. That is a fact.

which is why real transmissions for heavy towing do not use synchronizers, nor do drag race, or road race transmissions
synchronizers were developed so women can drive.