Looking for a recommendation on a high quality clutch for my '79 vette. I have a fairly stock L-82 so nothing to aggressive is needed. Just a really good, high quality, & long lasting clutch.

Also, any good links for advise on installation?

Go to your local Pep-Boys, and get a LUK clutch assy. Factory stuff, good as it gets for just about any application. Comes complete with the disc, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, pilot bushing/bearing, and an alignment tool. Prices are as good as you'll get from anyone else, too. We buy our clutches from them for 90% of our jobs.

This is timely advice for me, Joel, thanks.  I've been told by multiple sources now that OEM-type clutches are all most of us need and I was planning to go that way myself, but now I know which brand to focus on.  Do most parts houses carry them or just Pep Boys?

Not sure who all might carry the LUK brand, Dave. I do know Pep-Gurls does, but others might also. We deal with them because they are right next door to us, and they are a little cheaper price-wise than our normal supplier...go figure! Other places like NAPA prolly do carry LUK....don't know about Autozone, or anyone else, but you could certainly give them a call to see what brand(s) they do carry.
Not many street cars NEED a heavy dooty clutch set-up. Unless yer running a blower, nitrous, or turbo, a stock clutch is usually sufficient.


btw...when I replaced the factory original clutch in the '74 back in '99, I used a LUK....been doing fine with it. These days, 90% of all factory clutches are made by LUK, anyway.
Adams' Apple2011-05-10 06:32:11

Yup, that's what I put in mine. While your in there I would also make sure your fork and pivot stud aren't worn too badly. Mine were in pretty bad shape after 100k miles.

Sounds like a good recommendation.

Checked NAPA today and although their regular brand is something else (Perfection?)  they would order a LUK for me, but only with a flywheel included.  I was thinking I'd just have my original resurfaced.  Pretty sure other places around here will be able to get me just a clutch kit.  If not, it looks like I could order one on line for around $140 to $150.    

Yeah...don't fall for that, Dave. The clutch kits ARE available without the flywheel. I think my clutch for the '74 was right around $90 back in '99, but that was from my regular supplier, and I'm in the business...gotta love that discount! $120 sounds about right in today's dollar. I'll check later and see what the price is now, just to see what one costs.

How far are you from Portland, Dave? There is a place there called, of all things, Portland Transmission. It's a parts supplier, and we get a lot of our standard trans stuff from them, if we can't get it locally. They would prolly have the clutch kit in stock. I can check on that, too...

Thanks, Joel.  That would be awesome.  I'm just across the Columbia River from Portland - 15 minutes to downtown (w/o traffic, of course).  Yeah, when the gal at Napa told me $230 my jaw kind of dropped and I said I'll do some looking first.  I also checked on tie rod ends and they seemed to be about double what I was expecting for those, too.  (Something like $30 apiece)

Joel, are you sure that "Portland Transmission" is actually in Portland?  This place