The transmission must be removed,...
The transmission must be removed, so the first step is to unbolt the driveshaft. This car has an aluminum one-piece shaft. We got lucky, as the exhaust system didn't need to be unhooked to get the driveshaft or the transmission out.
To keep up with the ever-growing demands for better performance, the folks at RAM Clutches have designed a heavy-duty hydraulic clutch release bearing. This new product engages and disengages heavy-duty aftermarket clutches, regardless of the manufacturer. "The piston and cylinder are hard-coated for extended life," Norcia says. "It offers increased travel over stock (stock has roughly 0.430-0.450 inches, while the RAM has 0.510-0.525 inches of travel); and it's completely adjustable for use with single- or dual-disc clutch systems."
We drove to JPC Racing, specialists in the S197 arena, to watch as the crew fixed customer Kevin Scott's '06 Mustang. The test vehicle suffered from serious shifting woes at the dragstrip and on the street. The '06 Mustang GT is equipped with a fairly standard package from JPC Racing-a supercharger (ProCharger P1SC), exhaust mods, custom tuning, gears, new clutch, and some other tricks. Output is an impressive 530 rwhp and 460 rwtq-enough to push a full-weight street car into the mid-11s on drag radials. This car was unfortunately stuck in the 12.50s at 122 mph-not due to bad driving but because the driver had to let off the gas completely and shift the car slowly and gradually. The RAM hydraulic clutch release bearing is a welcome addition-now the Stang's owner can finally use all the horsepower that he bought.
The transmission comes out...
The transmission comes out quickly and easily. We suggest you get a bunch of friends to help or use a transmission jack. These Tremec 3650 transmissions are much heavier than the old T5 units common in Fox-body Mustangs.
Installation is straightforward and relatively easy. The transmission is first removed, and the factory hydraulic bearing release is replaced with the RAM unit. The JPC guys did a little grinding inside the bellhousing to properly mount the braided lines and keep them out of the way. A factory vent was opened up a bit so Burcham could inspect the clutch and make sure it was operating and adjusted properly before dropping the car on the ground.
Once JPC's Steve Young completed the install, it was time for a testdrive. A few miles of easy shifting and driving were performed to ensure the unit was operating properly. Burcham then let it rip, and the car shifted flawlessly, without a hint of grinding or any troubles hitting the gears. The week after our visit to JPC, the owner went out to Maryland International Raceway. He ran consistent mid-11s on drag radials and was having the time of his life. Burcham added that he's shifted some of these cars with the RAM unit over 7,000 rpm without a hint of grinding or any other problems.
It's an effective modification to help you have fun with all the horsepower under the hood. This might not be a glamorous tech story with huge power numbers, but it's an important one if you plan on having happy powershifting.
Kevin Scott's Mustang was...
Kevin Scott's Mustang was equipped with a RAM 11-inch clutch setup.
The stock bearing is on the...
The stock bearing is on the left, and the RAM is on the right.
RAM provided the fittings...
RAM provided the fittings to convert the factory fluid line ends...
...to accept the AN hoses...
...to accept the AN hoses.
The piston slides onto the...
The piston slides onto the input shaft of the transmission.
Shims are used to make sure...
Shims are used to make sure the RAM unit is spaced properly to engage and disengage the clutch effectively. Otherwise, the unit wouldn't have enough leverage to pull the clutch out and disengage it.