I'm not doing anything "wrong". I've been driving manuals for 10 years and I have yet to "blow up" a clutch. But last night I tried to sled pull, I've hooked chains with a 460 automatic, and helped a buddy pull start a full sized John deer tractor. Every time I was less than pleased with the clutch. I really don't want the guys that have 4.10s and a turbo that never break 1800rpms towing 4000 lbs at 50mph chiming in because that's nothing like how I use my truck. Mine is a 3.07 rear gear, and I push my truck to its limits whether I'm playing or working it with it. I just want a clutch that actually grabs
OK, normally I'd just stay away from this one because of the attitude coming across in that post, but I'm a little irritable already this morning.
First off, 10 years is NOTHING. Hell, by the time I was 20 I could have claimed that, and every time I was behind the wheel underage it was because I was towing to help my dad. His old truck was an anemic '82 f100, 2wd, v6, 3 on the tree, get on a boat ramp with a 3k tri-hull and a 50% grade and I was in the driver's seat because the truck couldn't hold it (parking brake didn't work), half the time I'd drive home on the dirt roads because he was tired. When I was 16 I was driving a 40' straight truck ('80 IH) for a moving company because even the older guys working there couldn't drive it.
Second, if you truly have a 3.07 rear, what the *bleep* are you doing trying to sled pull at all? Did you put in the 3.07 rear? Put the factory 3.55 or 4.10 back in, and if your truck actually came with a 3.07 rear, get rid of it, these engines are anemic enough trying to work them with a 3.55 rear, I can't imagine it being anything but hopeless with a 3.07 behind it, I'd think you were pushing it to the limit just trying to haul itself down the road.
Third, check your attitude. I tow with a 3.55 rear, 4-speed, and N/A engine, and more than once I've had enough weight behind my truck that I've had to start in 4-low on flat paved ground and go to high range once I work my way through the gears in low range (try an IH 3388 on a trailer that won't cry from the weight), but it's nice to be able to put 3-4k behind the truck and turn 2700 at 70 without OD, someday I'll drop in a zf and go to 4.10s, might even turbo my truck, but until that day, I'm fine with what my truck has.
Fourth, AFAIK, the south bend clutches are still a LUK kit with a re-worked pressure plate, they run the same friction plate. I've had a napa special in my truck for a few years now, it's easy to claim the clutch can handle 425hp when it's for an engine that's not capable of making that.
Fifth, if you haven't grenaded a clutch, you haven't pushed a truck to the limit. I've had friction plates shatter, TOBs come apart, and pressure plates blow off the fingers. Not to mention the autos I've burnt up and engines that have spewed their guts all over the road.
Finally, how about a little info on your truck in your sig?