AA centerforce clutch....WTF??

[beechnut]

After giving what clutch setup to run lots of consideration i bucked up and ordered a centerforce setup from Advance Adapters on friday. I explained what i needed to the nice lady on the phone (SBC mated with a 4spd) and we ordered a pressure plate/disc, TO bearing (the one on the left in the pic) and straight release arm which i was assured all would work together great etc (in particular that the disc splines were for a toyota not a chev!). Well they arrived this afternoon (after AA closed, will call tomorrow) and i do not see how this TO bearing will work with the release arm they sent me and the disc has the same amount of slop on the trans input shaft as a chev disc has! Is this TO bearing a stock toyota item? I'm thinking i should just go to NAPA and order a chev TO bearing for a low profile pressure plate.

 

[dgangle]

The TO bearing on the left appears to be the stock Toyota. It is used with the more-current AA SBC/speed conversion that uses their cast aluminum belhousing and a stock bearing retainer.

The one on the right looks light a GM TO bearing. It's smaller obviously and goes with the older AA plate-style adapter. This uses a CI GM belhousing with a 1/2" or so plate that adapts the GM belhousing to the Toy-4speed. This kit comes with a replacement TO bearing retainer that is turned down to accept the smaller GM TO bearing.

I am unsure which release arm that is but I think it is the stock Toyota.

I'm not sure if any of this helps you, though. When you call them back make sure you tell them which style adapter you have, as well as the dia of the bearing retainer.

Regarding the clutch, I have used both the low-profile GM and the Centerforce. Both worked well for many years. The CF requires a lot more muscle in the left leg for sure. I have never found the spine engagement to be of any issue in 100K+ miles.