I'm running a LT1 style (one piece rear main seal) T56 out of a 1999 camaro behind my GMPP HT383. The trans came with the factory clutch and pressure plate that supposedly had 59,000 miles on it which I installed with the trans and have put about 3,000 more very hard miles on.
So far it has worked flawlessly. I'm using a f-body style hydraulic clutch master\slave setup and love the pedal feel and effort it takes to disengage the clutch and the daily driveablility is pretty nice as well.
Yesterday I noticed that I slipped the clutch a couple of times during my autocross runs. The slippage occurred after I had shifted to second on the starts but it didn't slip again the rest of the runs. On the ride home it behaved normally as well. I can only assume that as I continue to beat on the car, the clutch is going to be the next weak link that goes. So, this is my homework assignment...find the replacement before it's actually needed in a hurry.
What is the hot ticket these days for a replacement clutch that will hold 400 ft pounds of torque to the rear tires at 2,000 rpm well while still giving nice daily driving attributes?
I'm not looking to break the bank here either but I'd like to make the correct decision the first time and be happy with the choice. I've had friends buy the biggest baddest clutch disc they could get and be totally unhappy with the daily driving aspect and I do not want to make that mistake while at the same time I don't want to be replacing it again in 6 months to a year because it can't hold up to what I'm putting it through.
Open to suggestions, personal experience with a similar type setup worth even more.
You can hear the clutch slip after I make the first left turn and head towards the kink in the first straight on a couple of these runs.